Nine Lives

by KorKor11

It's the 1920s when Rosalie Hale meets Bella Swan. Two girls from two affluent families that couldn't be any more different. When societal norms drive them apart, they're convinced they'll never see each other again. Decades pass and Rosalie tries to forget and move on, but how can she when she runs into the ghost of her past at Forks University? Rosalie/Bella. Rosella.

2. Chapter 2

The feeling had come the same way winter had that year.

It was slow, teasing the end of autumn with cooler weather and clear skies.

The signs were there.

Dead leaves. Dead plants. Dying insects. Migrating birds.

The signs were there, but no one paid them any mind.

Because, when the weather was nice enough to go out with merely a light jacket, the impending winter was easy to ignore.

The signs were there.

They were there but no one paid attention.

Why didn't anyone pay attention?

Rosalie had watched them from her bedroom window, lip curled in a sneer as the fools continued to ignore the inevitable.

They rode bikes and tossed aside jackets and coats and made callous remarks about how nice winter would be for a change.

It was early December, and the temperature hadn't even dropped to the fifties.

But she knew winter would soon arrive, even if everyone else wanted to pretend otherwise.

"Rose, why don't you come take a walk with us?" Lillian offered, stepping into her room and turning on the light.

Rosalie didn't look at her. "It will snow soon." Instead, she stared out the window, wishing her mother would just leave.

Her mother winced. "Sweetheart, you haven't been yourself lately. Your father and I are worried. Your friends are worried. Royce is-"

Empty words.

"It will snow soon."

Lillian sighed in exasperation. "Well, I'm not so sure about soon."

Why aren't you listening to me? I'm trying to warn you.

"You can't feel it? The cold?"

The signs were there.

"...sweetheart, is this about..."

The signs were there. They were always there.

"Tomorrow, then," Lillian murmured, closing the door behind her.

Why aren't you paying attention? Winter is coming. It will be terrible and everything will freeze.

Rosalie watched her leave.

You hear my warnings but you're not listening.

The signs were there, but no one paid them any mind.

Why aren't you listening?

No one paid them any mind because it was easier to ignore the inevitable. It was easier to delude themselves instead of face reality.

The signs were there, but people would turn a blind eye to it and act shocked when winter descended upon Rochester.

Don't you see me? Don't you hear me? Why are you ignoring me?

The signs were there, but no one had prepared for the heavy snow that followed.

I tried to warn you. All of you. But you didn't hear me. You didn't see me.

The signs were there, but no one was prepared for the heavy snow.

Just as Rosalie wasn't prepared for a new family to move into Swan Manor.

"The Cullens are moving in. They seem like a nice family." Her mother mused, closing the door behind her and sitting next to Rosalie on her bed.

"The Cullens," Rosalie repeated, watching the large snowflakes fall. "They're moving in." She blinked, tearing her eyes away from the snowflakes in order to look at the new family. Two men and a woman were moving furniture into the mansion. "Do you see their furniture? I thought wealthy people were supposed to have taste."

Lillian looked at her in surprise. "Rose-"

She stood to her feet. "And there's only three of them? What do they need a large mansion for?"

The same could be asked of her own large mansion with only three occupants. But Rosalie didn't care. She had stopped calling her mansion a home years ago.

"They have the means-"

"I. Don't. Care." Rosalie hissed, glaring at them from her window. "They're going to go into that house and ruin it with their hideous decor." The longer she stared the angrier she became. "Do you know how long it took for Charles, Chilali, and Ephraim to paint the walls? They painted every room in that house, and it took the three of them four months to finish it all."

She began pacing, looking away from the Cullens and glaring at the floor. "Mary Alice and Aya came over to help-"

"Who?"

"But they kept playing. Mary Alice kept running around with Lucy and flicking paint at her, and Aya kept playing her favorite songs." She stopped pacing. "It always made them start dancing." A watery smile appeared on her lips as she turned to her mother. "And Charles, he let Gene and Levi paint wolves in their rooms. Chilali and Lucy have these special blankets from their birth parents, so they decorated their rooms with the same design-"

"Rosalie," her mother stood, reaching out to her. "I don't understand-"

Rosalie stepped away from her. "Charles's favorite rug is the one Mary Alice and Bella got paint on. They'd switch it out whenever they had people over, but he showed it to me. He said he keeps it because..." her brow furrowed. "What did he say? Something about memories being more important than a ruined rug. Bella and Mary Alice had been running from Ephraim, they had paint on their hands and they fell and-"

"Rosalie," Lillian murmured, eyes watering as she leaned forward and took her hand in hers. "It's okay to feel sad-"

"Sad?" She laughed, ripping her hand free and shaking her head. "I'm not sad. Weren't you listening?" She gestured to the Cullens. "They are going into that house with their wretched furniture and–" she watched in disbelief as the woman picked up a few paint cans and began walking in the house. "They are going into that house with their wretched furniture..." her anger peaked as she stomped over to her window and threw it open. "You bovine bitch! What do you think you're doing!" She yelled down the street, making the brunette turn to her in surprise. "It took them four fucking months to paint that house and you're going to ruin it with your tacky sense of style-"

Her mother grabbed her arms, yanking her away from the window and slamming it shut. "Rosalie Hale!" Lillian turned to her with cold blue eyes and pursed lips, a look that would have once intimidated Rosalie.

It was a stern look that would have cowed her into giving a hasty apology. A look that had once made her flustered and embarrassed for doing anything to earn such disapproval from her mother.

But, at the moment, there were more pressing matters she had to address.

"You should be yelling at them! They're going to ruin that house!" Rosalie screamed, grabbing the nearest object, her glass perfume bottle, and throwing it at the opposite wall. It exploded with a crash, raining pieces of glass all over the carpet as pink liquid oozed down the wall.

The strong floral scent filled the room, making her head pound and her nostrils burn.

"Rose-"

"They took everything with them! The pictures, the paintings–they took the painting!" She ranted, going to her closet and throwing it open. "And now, this pitiful family of three is going to move in with their awful decor and they're going to repaint the walls!" She yanked her clothes from the hangers, throwing them all to the ground. "They're going to ruin it! They're going to ruin everything!" She grabbed a stray hanger, throwing it at another wall, unsatisfied with the minimal noise it made as it bounced off. "And Aya's house! Everything is gone! Everything!"

Her mother tried to speak to her, but she couldn't hear anything aside from her heart thundering in her ears and her heavy breathing.

The scent of her perfume permeated the room as the liquid slid down the wall and infused in the carpet.

The smell was overwhelming. Burning through her nose and filling her mouth, nearly making her choke as she stumbled away from her closet.

Bella loved this smell on me. She said I smelled like a rose garden–

"The jars and bottles are still in the tree, but they're empty! There are no fireflies! And now, these people are ruining my house!" Rosalie roared, swiping everything off her dresser and onto the floor. They fell with a loud crash. "They'll paint over the height charts and the wolves and the drawings Bella and I made on her wall and the-"

Firm hands grabbed her shoulders.

They weren't rough, they weren't aggressive. They steadied her. They made her stop and release a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.

Her heart was still racing and her body was still burning with rage but, for now, she was grounded.

The scent of her perfume remained, but she no longer felt as though she were going to gag.

Tearful blue eyes stared into her own, and Lillian released a shaky breath before pulling her into a tight hug. "Rose, I'm so sorry." Rosalie didn't move. "It's okay to be sad. I'm your mother, you don't have to pretend around me-"

"I hate you."

Her mother froze, slowly withdrawing from her and looking at her with wide eyes. "W-What?"

Rosalie glared at her. "I warned you! I told you winter was coming, and you didn't listen! No one listened!" She looked out the window, watching as the snow swallowed the earth slowly began devouring the poles of the street lights. "You only pretended to listen! But you didn't hear me! And now look outside! It's cold and awful and..." her voice cracked and she couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I told you this would happen. You knew it would, but you didn't do anything until it was too late."

In her solitude, Rosalie had learned a lot about herself.

She was a Hale and her fate had never been in her hands. This was something she had known since she was a child.

But she had come to realize that she could fight fate. She couldn't change it, no, she wasn't naive.

But she didn't have to go into her marriage quietly. She didn't have to accept everything her parents said and did. She didn't have to listen and value the thoughts and ideas of people she detested.

She would always have to pretend, whether it be about whom she loved or what she wanted.

Because, despite her breakthrough, she knew better than to sabotage the Hale name.

But no longer would she pretend to indulge those that were beneath her. And no longer would she hold her tongue for the sake of others.

Bella and her family had been all she ever wanted. Whether they be at Charles's house or Aya's, it had been home to her in a way this empty mansion could never be.

The clutter and tight spaces of Aya's home in the swamp, that dilapidated shack that had once been suffocating, had become a place of comfort.

All of them would visit.

Charles, Chilali, Ephraim, Levi, Gene, Lucy, Bella, Rosalie.

All of them would visit.

They would cram into that tiny house with Mary Alice and Aya in a way that made her feel warm and safe and loved.

They would bump into one another, laughing as they tried to navigate around the sea of bodies that filled the tiny spaces.

They would lean against one another, or find a home in each other's laps. They would sprawl out, laying their heads on the ones around them, relaxing completely because they were surrounded by those they loved and trusted.

Relaxing completely because they were surrounded by those that would always love them.

Relaxing completely because they were surrounded by those that would always accept them.

The Swans and Brandons saw each other clearly.

Charles, with his overbearing protectiveness of his children, and his proclivity to avoid vulnerability.

Aya, with a harshness in her voice that would come from a place of concern, but could lead to hurt feelings and misplaced anger.

Ephraim, with his domineering tendencies.

Chilali, with her superiority complex.

Levi, with his poor self-confidence, one that tempted him to run when he made a mistake.

Gene, with his impulsivity.

Lucy, with her overly cantankerous attitude.

Mary Alice, with her overzealous personality that led her to be obtrusive.

Bella, with her quick temper and sharp tongue.

Rosalie, with her narrow-minded views and uptight personality.

We couldn't hide our flaws. No matter how hard we tried.

The Swans and Brandons saw each other clearly.

They saw her clearly.

They could see into each other's soul as though it were made of glass.

They had experienced firsthand the glaring flaws that their loved ones carried with them. They would be chastised and scolded and lectured until they came to their senses and apologized.

And yet, above all else, they were still loved and accepted. Flaws and all.

But now that's gone. They're all gone.

"I hate you so, so much."

I listened to you, and look where that got me. But when I tell you of winter you ignore me.

"Rosalie, what are you saying–"

I warned you.

Something inside of her snapped.

You didn't listen.

"Are you losing your hearing? Or have you always lacked basic comprehension?"

Her mother's eyes hardened. "Now you listen here–"

"No! You get to sit in your perfect house with your rich husband who you pretend to love. You get to brag to your friends about your perfect daughter and how she's going to marry Royce King." Rosalie sneered. "Bury my feelings, that's what you told me to do, that's what you said you did." Lillian stared at her with wide eyes. "But you have it so easy. I buried my feelings and now Bella's gone. Meanwhile, you get to live a lie while you fuck the help-"

The slap shouldn't have surprised her, but it did.

Rosalie held her cheek, staring at her mother in shock as she glared at her.

Lillian hadn't slapped her with much force, it hardly stung, but it had certainly gotten her attention.

"I know you're upset, but you watch your fucking mouth. I am still your mother, and you will never address Andrea in that manner again, do you understand me?" She hissed, and Rosalie couldn't help but nod.

Because, even though Lillian herself had once referred to Andrea in such a manner, her mother had done so as a defense. It was her own attempt to bury her feelings, something she had come to Rosalie about after the fact and apologized for.

Andrea was akin to a second mother, and the shame that came with having ever referred to her in such a demeaning way...

That was awful.

That same shame threatened to suffocate her.

If she had ever heard me say that about her...

"I-I'm sorry." She stammered, unable to feel anything but repulsion for herself as more tears streamed down her cheeks. "I love Andrea I...I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I didn't!"

Andrea was so kind that, even if she had heard Rosalie's cruelty, she wouldn't have held it against her. She would hold her close as Rosalie burst into tears and blubbered out an apology. She would provide her with undeserving comfort and love, just as she always had.

Lillian sighed, eyes filling with guilt and discomfort as she looked away from her daughter. "I deserve your anger and your hatred. All of it. Not Andrea."

"Mother–"

"I'm sorry I hit you. I shouldn't have done that." Her voice softened and she gently cupped Rosalie's face in her hands. "But to call my life easy..." a sad smile graced her lips, and blue eyes dulled. "Do you think it's easy growing up loving someone you can never be with?"

No. I know it's not.

"When I was ten, I told my mother that I loved Andrea," Lillian murmured, eyes glassy and voice shaky. "I had never seen two women together, but I was so certain I was going to marry her." She swallowed thickly and released Rosalie's cheeks, planting a kiss where she had struck her before pulling away. "She slapped me, hard, and she threatened to have Andrea and her mother strung up if I ever said such nonsense again. She said she could get two more just like them in a heartbeat, and the same would happen to them if I ever talked about loving women again...especially colored women."

Rosalie's eyes widened. She had always known her grandmother to be harsh, cruel, but never towards her, only towards Lillian.

She reached out to her mother. "I didn't know..."

She gently took her hand in hers. "How could you have known? I learned from a very young age that I had to bury my feelings. My sickness. And I kept it all to myself." A tear fell. "But to tell me that I have it easy...that's wrong." She whispered, "Is it easy spending your whole life wondering why God cursed you? Is it easy forcing yourself to be with someone you could never love, and watching the woman you love do the same?" She clenched her jaw. "Is it easy to see all the married couples, the ones that people coo at like they're fucking pigeons because they do something as trivial as smile at one another?"

I was wrong. I was wrong and I'm so sorry.

But Rosalie's anger was still fresh, and her pain was still deep.

Even if it wasn't, she didn't know what to say.

"Is it easy to look at happy couples and delude yourself with fantasies of you and the woman you love being able to display affection that openly?" The heat in her voice melted away, and her shoulders sagged ever so slightly. "I've always been a very materialistic person. And yet, what I wanted more than anything in this world was to be able to simply hold hands with the woman that I loved...I just want to hold her hand in public, as men and women do." She said wistfully. "I want people to coo over us like the pigeons they are, just because we do something as simple as smile at one another." For a moment her mother looked lost. "How amazing would that be? To live in a world where I can be with her without shame?"

Silence engulfed them.

Lillian stared at nothing, eyes still wet and unfocused. "To live in a world where I can love her openly...wouldn't that just be amazing, Rose?"

She gave her mother's hand a gentle squeeze, unable to stop the tears from flowing once again. "That would be...amazing, mother."

How often had she thought of life with Bella? A life where the two of them could be together without fear or shame?

So often I dream about it. Bella and I's marriage. The house. The kids. Our families would visit frequently and–

A choked sob escaped Lillian as her eyes came back into focus. She was looking at Rosalie with a pained expression, and she allowed her own tears to fall freely.

She put a hand on her cheek and brushed a few of Rosalie's tears away. "That look in your eyes...oh...it's like I'm looking into a mirror." She breathed, sniffling as she took a shaky deep breath. "My life is not easy, Rose. Because if it was, I wouldn't be standing here, hating myself for bringing a child into this world that bears the same sickness as I do."

Rosalie held back her own sob, resting her hand on her mother's and leaning into her touch. "I shouldn't have said that...I-I shouldn't have. I'm sorry I'm sick. I'm sorry I make you sad."

Lillian's bottom lip trembled and she kissed her forehead. "No, my sweet Rose. You don't make me sad...you're beautiful and smart and you're everything I wish I was at your age. My love for you is unwavering. My love for you is unending. No matter how you feel about me, you could never make me sad." She swallowed thickly, collecting herself before saying, "I'm sad because I did this to you. And I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize," Rosalie murmured. "I...I'll never be sorry for loving Bella. I just wish..."

I just wish I had loved her the way she deserved to be loved.

No one could make her as happy as her Bella did, of that she was certain.

Rosalie looked at her mother. "I shouldn't have yelled at you about winter and about–"

But I warned you. I did. I just wanted you to hear me. I just wanted you to see me.

"Stop." Lillian shook her head. "I knew this would happen. Just as I knew you would grow to resent me. I should have done something, but...I was scared, Rose." She confessed, making her daughter look at her in disbelief. "I've never seen you like this before and I didn't know what to do and..." she had never heard her mother ramble before. "I thought if I didn't say anything, it would go away. I'm sorry I haven't been a better mother to you, but that changes today."

Part of her wanted to believe her mother.

But a larger part of her had grown used to the sting of disappointment.

What does our heart-to-heart change? I'll still have to marry Royce. Bella is still gone. That house is...

Nevertheless, Rosalie did appreciate her mother's vulnerability, despite how painful it was to hear.

And yet...

I want Aya.

Rosalie blinked back her tears. "...okay."

I want Aya. I want her here. I want her to hold me.

She loved her mother, but her emotions were still jumbled and she didn't know how to feel.

She wondered how it was possible to love and resent someone at the same time.

"When I was your age, I would often say cruel things without thinking. Cruelty for the sake of being cruel is...wanting, to say the least." She murmured. "If you're going to say such awful things, there had better be a reason for it. A calm anger, a cold one, will make you more respectable. Don't raise your voice, add a bite to it."

More lessons. Lessons I should listen to.

Lillian pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You and I...we're the only ones that understand each other. We may still have to pretend but...we don't have to in front of each other, or in front of Andrea."

Rosalie, sighed, leaning in and embracing her mother. "Aren't you tired of lying?"

"What other choice do I have?" She was quiet for a moment, stroking Rosalie's back as she held her close. "Another piece of advice, though, I fear it's not a very good one. But women like us, we have no choice but to abide by it." She murmured, pulling away so she could look Rosalie in the eye. "Sometimes the lies we tell ourselves, and the lies we tell others, are the only way to survive. People prey on vulnerability. They will use it against you. They will use it to hurt you." Lillian sighed, "It's like what we talked about when you were younger, remember? You are a beautiful and intelligent young woman, and people are intimidated by that. You are better than them and they know it. You are my Rose, but always let it be known that you have thorns."

I never had to have thorns when it came to Bella.

But she understood.

She understood everything.

"Everyone will know I have thorns."

"They will know you have thorns," she agreed. "And when they try to pluck you from your stem, they will bleed."

They will. I'll make sure of it.

"...thank you, mother. Thank you for telling me."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner." She sighed. "But I'll do better from now on, you have my word." Lillian then frowned, glancing towards her closed window. "Just because you have thorns doesn't mean you don't have manners." Rosalie suppressed her eye roll. "Tomorrow you'll go over to the Cullens and apologize to Mrs. Cullen for being so rude."

Rosalie pulled away from her, furrowing her brow. "I wasn't being rude I was being honest. Did you see that furniture?"

Her mother's lips twitched upward, and there was mirth in her voice as she said, "I'm sure your honesty was appreciated, and I certainly agree with you, that rug was godawful. But just because she's tacky doesn't mean she's a bitch."

And for the first time in weeks, Rosalie laughed, loud and full.

...

Esme Cullen was beautiful.

And Rosalie hated her.

She had long brown hair and bright gold eyes. Her skin was smooth and pale, free of blemishes, and she had a beautiful smile that made Rosalie's eyes widen. Esme looked very kind, with her warm smile and soft eyes.

She wore a blue dress paired with a gold locket and black flats. Esme was a head shorter than Rosalie was, but the way she held herself didn't make her seem as short as she was.

In a way, Esme reminded Rosalie of Aya.

There was something about Aya that was inviting. She made Rosalie feel special, even though she never treated her any different than the other kids.

Where Lillian's beauty was intimidating, Esme's and Aya's were welcoming. It drew people in, made them smile. Whereas, her mother's made people fumble over themselves when they spoke to her. Some struggled to look her in the eye.

Rosalie looked Esme in the eye with ease, but she found her gentle demeanor to be wanting.

Aya was the kindest woman she knew, but she was no pushover, and Esme looked like even the flutter of a breeze would knock her over.

You know better than to underestimate her. You know better than to underestimate anyone, even if they are beneath you.

"Hello, you must be Rosalie." Esme extended her hand out to her. "Between you and the Swans, you seem to be the talk of the town."

If the Swans and I are such a popular gossip topic, then you should know better than to bring the both of us up in our first conversation.

She didn't know if Esme was too trusting, dense, or plotting something. But she was alert.

Rosalie stared at Esme's hand for a moment before taking it, eyes widening at how cold her skin was. The woman noticed her discomfort and quickly withdrew, making the blonde sigh as she mustered up the best apologetic smile she could.

"Yes, and you're Mrs. Cullen–"

"Oh, that's a bit too formal for me. Just Esme is fine, dear."

The term of endearment rubbed her the wrong way.

I don't know you. I called you a bitch. Why are you being nice?

"Esme..." she bit her tongue, fighting back the urge to say anything rude. "I've just come to apologize for yesterday. I shouldn't have called you a bovine bitch, that was very rude of me. I'm sorry."

I won't apologize for calling your sense of style tacky. I won't have you make a complete liar out of me.

"I understand." Esme opened her door wider, giving Rosalie a sad smile. "I...I know what this house means to you."

Rosalie clenched her jaw.

Rochester talks and it never shuts up.

When she found out who had been talking to the Cullens about her she would–

"Would you like to come in? I can put some coffee on–"

She put her gloved hand up to stop her. "Oh, trust me, I think it would be better if I didn't. But I appreciate the offer."

To her surprise, Esme laughed. "We haven't unpacked and moved everything in yet. I promise, your eyes are safe." Rosalie hesitated and she said, "I also have something for you."

She remembers when she first went with Bella and her family to the swamp.

"You're not worried we won't kill you or something?"

She was such a little shit.

The memory almost made her smile, but suspicion caused her to narrow her eyes. "I called you a tasteless, classless, bovine bitch and you have something to give me?"

She didn't trust Esme. She couldn't. Because who was this kind after being insulted?

"You didn't call me tasteless or classless-"

"It was implied." She crossed her arms over her chest, suppressing her grimace at the feel of the cold wind hitting her back. It was a wonder Esme didn't have goosebumps. "I'll come inside, but be aware that my family knows that I'm here."

Esme stepped back, allowing her to walk into the house. "You have nothing to worry about from me, I promise." She said, "My husband, Carlisle, and my son, Edward, have stepped out for a bit. They'll be back shortly if you would like to meet them."

"I would not."

Her annoyance faltered the second she stepped past the threshold.

This is wrong.

The house was so empty and it was so quiet.

Rosalie detested it.

The walls were bare. The furniture was gone. The warm and jovial atmosphere had been sucked from the house, replaced with a cold and despondent feeling that nearly brought tears to her eyes.

The painting...you couldn't have at least left it?

This wasn't her house.

This was a skeleton.

"They left a lot of their things. We weren't sure what to do with them, so we put most of it in a room for storage. Some of what they left felt too nice to throw away. Too personal. We were planning on sending it to them, but maybe you'd like to look through some of it and–"

Rosalie gritted her teeth. "I am not some scavenger. I don't need to–"

"That's not what I was implying," Esme said, frowning up at her. "My husband and I met your father at the bank. He mentioned how nice it would be for someone to move into this house. He said your families had been very close before they left."

No. I was very close to them. They all hated Robert.

But she knew better than to speak ill of her father. If word got back to him he would be furious, and she could already hear his stern lecture and his tired tangents about the importance of their reputation.

"I just thought you would like something from them."

Rosalie pursed her lips and looked away from her. "...that's kind of you." She had already been pushing her luck with how rude she's been. The last thing she needed was for Esme to kick her out and then go complaining to her mother about her behavior.

And then, go tell the town about my behavior. As if they weren't gossiping enough about my disappearance.

"I'm sorry I've been so unpleasant." She lied.

I'm sorry I have to lie to your face for the sake of saving my own.

Esme smiled and shook her head. "Rude, yes. Unpleasant, no." Rosalie looked at her in surprise. "Your honesty is a little hurtful but...refreshing." She then laughed quietly. "Bovine bitch...I hadn't heard that one before."

Rosalie frowned at her. "Well...I'm glad I can amuse you." Without thinking she began to walk to the dining room. "I suppose that means you won't poison my coffee?"

The brunette followed, and she could hear the smile in her voice when she said, "That would make me a poor hostess."

When they got to the dining room Rosalie abruptly stopped, blue eyes fixated on the table and chairs that remained.

The dining room felt warm again, alive in a way that could only mean–

Ephraim looked up from his plate, smiling at Rosalie and Bella with a mouth full of spaghetti. "Rosawie and Bewwa! It's–" he choked when Chilali cuffed him on the back of the head.

"Stop being gross." She complained, avoiding his swat with a laugh. "Nice try, dick." He swallowed his food, glaring at her before shoveling more into his mouth. "Rose..." she looked down at the blonde's fist that was clutched to her chest. "Woah, what happened? Are you alright?"

Ephraim's gaze trailed to Rosalie's hand and his eyes widened. "I'll go get something cold." He jumped up from his seat and disappeared into the kitchen.

Rosalie blushed, effectively distracted from her throbbing knuckles as Bella jumped forward. "You should have seen her!" She boasted, turning to Rosalie with a wide grin. "This boy came up to us and was trying to flirt with Rose." She then rolled her eyes. "He really sucked at it too. He sounded like an ass."

"How old was he?"

Her friend scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know. Maybe sixteen or seventeen. I didn't fucking ask. Still, Rose is fifteen, so he shouldn't have been talking to her anyway."

"Not a huge age gap, but that's beside the point," Chilali smirked. "So, you said he was bad at flirting?"

Rosalie hadn't wanted his attention, but she appreciated his admiration. Still, he could have admired her quietly, which is what she would have preferred.

"Terrible at it." Bella groused, shrugging her shoulders.

"Coming from the fifteen year old." She taunted. "You're saying you could flirt better than he could?"

This made her bristle. "Of course I could!" She turned to Rosalie with red cheeks and a scowl. "You look beautiful, princess!" She all but yelled, making the blonde's face burn as she suppressed a smile. "See!" Bella whirled to face her older sister. "I can make her blush, he couldn't do that because he's the worst!"

Chilali huffed out a laugh. "Right, it was your flirting skills that made her blush." She gave Rosalie a look, and it took all her strength not to hide her face in her hands.

Because, of course, Chilali would tease her about something so inappropriate.

They were both girls, there was no way they could like each other romantically.

But...

Rosalie pushed the thought from her mind.

Everyone had strange thoughts like that from time to time, or at least, Bella told her that she had those same strange thoughts as well.

It was just curiosity, Bella had assured her with a face as red as a tomato. Surely, many often wondered if kissing the same sex felt any different, just as the two of them did.

"You didn't have to yell when you were flirting," Rosalie grumbled to her friend, who looked at her incredulously.

"I'm passionate!"

This made her giggle. "You're such a dolt."

Ephraim came back into the dining room with a jug of milk, making Chilali scowl at him. "I knew I should have done it myself. She has bruised knuckles, not cookies, you dumbass." He set it down on the table, and Bella ushered Rosalie to sit so she could press her knuckles against the milk.

He glared at Chilali while Bella snickered at the insult. "We're out of ice and dad hasn't gone to the store. Dick."

Rosalie winced at the cold, and the throbbing returned. "Thank you, Eph."

He smiled at her, sitting down and gesturing for her to continue. "Okay, so what happened?"

Chilali sat next to him, leaning forward and looking at Rosalie with her intense dark eyes. "And who do we need to kill? It's that boy, right? Remember what he looks like?"

Given that the Davenport brothers had ended up dead after harassing the Swan sisters, Rosalie wasn't sure if she was being serious or not.

"No one needs to die." Though, she very much wished she could strike the boy again.

Maybe kick him for good measure.

Bella leaned closer to her, placing her warm hand on her knee in a way that was supposed to be comforting. But it only served to make Rosalie's cheeks burn and her heart race.

"Anyway, this boy is flirting with Rosie and I can tell she doesn't like it. So I told him to fuck off." She explained. "And he got mad, or whatever, and shoved me–"

Ephraim's brow furrowed. "Are you–"

"I'm fine, dummy. I promise." Bella muttered, though they all knew her well enough to know that she was touched by his concern.

"Were you wearing your–"

Bella rolled her eyes, holding up her wrist. "Family crest. Yep." She said, popping the p and putting her arm back down. "He saw my bracelet. Then he called me an animal." Her friend grew quiet, looking a bit uncomfortable as she stared down at their dining room table.

Rosalie gritted her teeth, glaring at her blue and purple knuckles and wishing she had hit him even harder.

Instead, she placed her uninjured hand atop Bella's, making the brunette look up at her. Her cheeks turned pink and she rolled her hand on her thigh, flipping it so her palm was facing up and so she could interlace their fingers.

The contact calmed both the girls down, making them relax in their seats as they looked back at Bella's siblings.

Chilali narrowed her eyes. "He knew who you were, and he still...interesting."

"It's whatever." She grumbled.

Ephraim's jaw was tight and she could see the muscles beneath his shirt flex. "It's not 'whatever', Bella."

"He was just being an asshole, okay. I'm not...I don't get upset about being called that anymore." She lied before perking up. Her eyes gleamed with pride as she looked at Rosalie. "And you wouldn't believe it, but princess here throws a mean right hook. She hit him right in the nose!" Bella laughed, high-pitched and carefree. "It was so cool! He fell on his ass and his nose started bleeding and Rosalie was standing over him and yelling and she made him cry and–"

Rosalie huffed, "Well, he deserved it."

Her friend's smile grew as she turned to her siblings. "Long story short, I'm the proper one now."

This earned her a scowl. "Says the girl who threw Bethany into the lockers–"

"I didn't throw her...I just pushed her really hard. And it was her fault anyway, she was gossiping about you!"

"That boy pushed you and called you names!"

"Yeah, and you punched him! I only shoved Bethany!"

"She got a black eye!"

"He got a bloody nose!" Bella turned her nose up at her. "I don't punch people. I'm no ruffian!"

"No." Ephraim agreed. "You don't punch people, you only shove them or throw the occasional vase at their face."

Chilali smirked at that. "It was a pretty good throw."

Bella rolled her eyes. "My point still stands. I'm not a ruffian, therefore, I don't punch people." Her siblings laughed and she grinned as she turned back to Rosalie. "I told you, waaaaaay back when we first went to the swamp together, that I was the properest."

Rosalie couldn't suppress her fond smile. "And I told you that wasn't a word."

Bella gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't expect a ruffian to know what it means to be the properest–"

"You're such a–"

She turned to look at Ephraim and Chilali. "She fucking punched him, can you believe that? It was the most unladylike thing I've ever seen her do." Bella looked at Rosalie, eyes soft and smile warm. "It was amazing."

Her eyes widened and she ducked her head somewhat bashfully. "Well...I know you would do the same for me."

"Anything for my princess." It was Bella's turn to look surprised as the blood rushed to her face.

"Do you two need the room?" Chilali asked dryly, and Ephraim grinned and waggled his eyebrows suggestively at the girls.

"Shut up you freaks!" Bella snapped, face burning an even brighter red as she turned to Rosalie. "You're still, uh, stupid though, or whatever."

Rosalie again, wondered what it would be like to kiss a girl.

More specifically, she wondered what it would be like to kiss Bella.

"Thanks for defending our baby sister, Rose." Chilali's voice drew their attention. "It's nice that she has someone to look after her when we can't."

Rosalie understood what she meant. All of Bella's siblings would get in trouble for striking a white boy, no matter how much he deserved it.

Ephraim nodded, giving Rosalie a warm smile. "It means a lot to us." He then said, "You know, I'm not wrong about a lot of things but...I'm really glad I was wrong about you."

Rosalie smiled. "Thank you for giving me a chance."

Bella scoffed and stood up. "Yeah, it just took a vase to the cranium for him to get his shit together."

"Bells-"

"Just saying!"

Bella then turned to Rosalie.

"So, coffee?"

Esme asked, ripping Rosalie from her memories.

Oh.

Rosalie watched numbly as Ephraim's warm smile vanished.

She watched as Chilali's amused look disappeared.

And when Bella's smirk faded away, tears burned her eyes.

The warm glow of the dining room had been stripped away, making it feel cold and dark.

Rosalie abruptly stood to her feet. "I need to use the restroom." When Esme opened her mouth she shook her head. "I remember where it is." She left the dining room quickly, vision blurry from her unshed tears.

Coming here was a mistake.

Rosalie walked up the stairs, fingers trailing across the cracked banister.

This isn't my house. Not anymore.

When she made it to the top she froze.

"Hurry up! She's coming!" Bella squealed, gripping Mary Alice's hand tightly as they sprinted up the steps.

Rosalie ran after them with a scowl. "Bella Swan! Mary Alice Brandon! You two are dead!"

She stepped aside, watching as the children raced past her.

This house is a skeleton. A graveyard.

"We ain't mean to–" Mary Alice started, but Bella cut her off with a loud laugh.

"I did!"

"Bella!"

The brunette let Mary Alice's hand go. "Run! I'll hold her off–" Rosalie jumped on her, taking them both to the ground as Bella cackled wildly.

"You pest! Those were my favorite shoes!" She grabbed her by the straps of her overalls and gave the laughing girl a shake. "Ugh! I detest you!"

Bella grinned up at her. "I didn't know that Jinx would pee in your heels–"

"YOU PUT THEM IN THE LITTER BOX!"

Rosalie huffed out a quiet laugh, stepping around the two as she continued down the hall.

She had been so mad she could hardly breathe.

But Bella had put her heels in the litterbox out of spite.

Because I was ignoring her at school. Because I was scared of what people would think.

And after they had yelled at each other, and after Rosalie promised to ignore what others thought, she and Bella got along just fine.

Then Mary Alice and Lucy had dogpiled them, nearly crushing the girls to death.

It feels so long ago...

Rosalie stopped outside of Bella's closed door.

"Rose, look!" Gene cheered, opening the door and gesturing at their creation. "We made a pillow fort!"

It was pretty large, connecting from the top mattress to the dresser with a large blanket. Pillows and blankets covered the sides of the fort that weren't closed in. And Rosalie wasn't sure how to respond to what she was looking at.

"...good job?"

Levi raised an unamused brow. "I made a pillow fort. Bella kept jumping on top of it. Gene kept leaving to get snacks–"

"I was supervising–"

"And Lucy fell asleep inside of it." Levi rolled his eyes. "But Bella woke her up by pouncing on the fort, again. She landed on her and they got into a fight and destroyed the whole thing. So I had to rebuild it, again."

Charles poked his head out from inside the fort. "It's well made, son."

Soft snoring could be heard from inside the pillow fort, and Rosalie couldn't help but smile.

"Lucy?"

"Lucy." Charles agreed, slipping out and standing to his feet. "Bella was here just a second ago..."

"Bella!" Levi yelled, eyes tightening. "Don't you fucking dare! I just remade it!"

Rosalie turned to see her friend on the top mattress, crouched slightly and ready to pounce.

Grey eyes widened after having been caught. "Wha...I wasn't doing anything!" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Just admiring it from up here–"

"That's what you said the last fifty times you knocked it over, you ass!"

Charles sighed, shooting Rosalie an exasperated look before turning to his daughter. "Bella, please don't knock your brother's fortress over."

"I haven't even gone inside of it yet," Gene complained, quickly diving beneath the blanket.

The snoring abruptly cut off. "Ow! Gene what the hell!" A loud smack was heard and Gene cursed loudly.

"I didn't mean to! God, Lucy–"

"Dad, please make Bella come down!" Levi begged, not taking his eyes off his little sister, who huffed in annoyance.

"I wasn't even doing anything."

Rosalie put a hand on her hip. "Bella." Her friend perked up, looking at her with a smirk.

"Hey, Rosie. Sorry, would have said hi sooner but I had to concentrate." She told her, "There's a perfect way to knock the entire thing down if you angle your body just right."

Rosalie often wondered how she became friends with such a wild woman.

"You could get hurt, you dolt. Would you please come down? Then we can go in the fort that Levi worked really hard to make." Bella grumbled under her breath and Rosalie flashed her a smile. "I missed you. Are you really not going to come down here and give me a hug?"

Her friend bristled at this, and heat crept to her cheeks. "It's only been a couple of hours, stupid." But she launched herself from her bed, grabbing the rope and sliding down. "God, you're needy." She muttered, all but jumping into Rosalie's arms and hugging her tight.

Levi sighed in relief. "Thank you." He breathed, collapsing onto the ground dramatically and crawling into his fort.

Charles watched Rosalie and Bella with a fond smile. "Glad she listens to someone other than Aya." Bella glared at him but said nothing, giving Rosalie one more squeeze before pulling away.

"Whatever. Don't you have...dad things to do or something?"

Charles laughed and shook his head. "Okay, miss attitude, I'm gone. I need to go see Aya anyway–"

"Gross," Lucy muttered from inside the fort, making the children giggle and Charles scowl.

"Stop that. It's just dinner."

Gene's laugh echoed in the room. "No need to justify it to us, old man. Tell Aya we say hi...unless that kills the mood." His siblings snickered and Charles pinched the bridge of his nose before he turned to Rosalie.

"Never have children." He grumbled, but the smile on his lips said otherwise.

Rosalie gave him a nod, smiling back as she said, "Yes sir." She then grabbed Bella's hand. "Come on, let's go in the fort...then we can knock it down."

Her friend grinned and they ignored Levi's cry of outrage. "Fuck yeah!"

"Do you know what the rope was for?"

Rosalie jumped, nearly snapping at Esme for having snuck up on her.

Instead, she collected herself, and said, "It was for..."

The Swans were private people. Even if they moved away, it's none of her business. She'll just go blabbing all over town about it.

"Nothing." She muttered, walking into the room and going to where the bed used to be. "It's..."

There.

Her fingers traced the drawing on the wall.

"This is so immature."

"We're thirteen, dummy. Who wants to be mature anyway?"

Rosalie rolled her eyes, scooting closer to her friend on the bed. "When we're adults–"

"Everything will suck," Bella interjected. "That's what Chi told me, and she's not even a full adult yet." Rosalie hummed but said nothing. "Now stay still, I have to capture your likeness." Bella held the marker up, looking at Rosalie for a moment before turning back to the wall.

Rosalie rested her head on Bella's shoulder, watching as the brunette drew a crudely made stick figure of her. Bella gave her a big, dumb smile and long wavy hair.

"And what's a princess without her crown." She laughed, putting sharp spikes atop her head.

The blonde scowled at her and snatched the marker. "Ugh, that looks nothing like me!" Bella went to snatch it back but Rosalie held it out of reach. "I get to draw you now!"

"I saw this and...it made me wait to move everything in," Esme murmured. "There's so much history in this house..."

"Hey! Why'd you make me short! I'm taller than you, princess!"

Rosalie grinned, looking at her handiwork. She had given Bella the same, large dumb smile that Bella had given her. And she gave her a frown as well, making her look evil and mischievous. Her hair was long and spikey to add to her wild look. And just to spite her, she made Bella's stick figure just a fraction shorter than her own.

"Well, you say I'm a princess, so that makes you beneath me–" she laughed as Bella tackled her, knocking the marker out of her hand.

Rosalie stepped back, blinking away her tears before she faced Esme. "Coming here was a mistake. I should have just apologized and been on my way."

"Rosie! Bell Bell!"

Mary Alice and Lucy burst into the room, rudely waking Rosalie up and making her scowl. Bella was still sleeping on her chest, grumbling under her breath and nuzzling into her neck before going still again.

She slipped her arms around her friend, blinking groggily at the smirks Mary Alice and Lucy gave her. "Mary Alice, I'm glad you're back but couldn't you have waited until we woke up?"

"It's noon!" Lucy laughed, giving her sister's side a poke.

Bella swatted blindly at her. "Fuck off." She grumbled, not bothering to lift her head as she nestled deeper into Rosalie.

"Ya'll are too young to be lazing around in bed all day. Fourteen actin' like you forty!" The sound of Aya's voice made both girls sit up, and Rosalie couldn't help but grin as Aya walked into the room.

The two jumped out of bed, playfully shoving each other as they raced to the woman. "Aya!"

Mary Alice pouted. "Ya'll ain't act like that for me."

Lucy reached out, snatching Bella by the waist and hugging her to her chest. "Hey!" Bella tried to wiggle out of her grip but to avail.

Her older sister grinned. "You have to give me and Mary Alice our hug–"

"No! I don't want to–UGH!" Mary Alice slammed into her front and the two crushed her in their usual, group hug. Bella claimed she hated them, she claimed she hated most hugs, but deep down they all knew she secretly liked them.

Rosalie laughed, falling into Aya's embrace and closing her eyes. "Aya, I missed you!"

Aya's arms felt like home.

They felt like love.

The woman chuckled, holding her tight and kissing her temple. "Oh, I've missed you too, baby. So much!" Tears filled Rosalie's eyes. "A summer without my rosebud ain't no summer at all." She pulled away, warm brown eyes looked her over. "All my babies are getting so grown!" Rosalie was convinced that Aya's smile was magic. There could never be a bad day when Aya's smile brightened every room she was in. "But don't go growin' up too fast on me now."

Rosalie beamed at her. "I won't."

When she was with the Swans and the Brandons, she truly believed that.

"Good," Aya murmured, smoothing down gold locks that were disheveled and frizzy from sleep. "But I know you gotta grow up sometime." She kissed her forehead. "And when that time comes, I can't wait to see my rosebud bloom."

"Rosalie?"

Tears were streaming down her cheeks and nearly flinched in surprise.

What if I don't bloom, Aya?

A comforting, cold hand touched her shoulder.

What if I wither?

Rosalie shook Esme's hand off, hastily wiping her tears and glaring at the woman.

"If you speak a word of this to anyone I promise I will run you and your pathetic family out of Rochester." Rosalie hissed, "I am Rosalie Lillian Hale. My family has been here for years. I know the ins and outs of this city and I will not hesitate to destroy you, and this circus of a house you're about to create with your tasteless sense of style!"

Esme stared at her with sad gold eyes, face falling at Rosalie's threat.

"I won't say a word. I promise." It was then that she noticed the photograph in Esme's hand. "This must have slipped out of a photo album. I found it on the floor and I thought you would want to keep it."

Rosalie snatched it from her, glaring at Esme before her eyes fell on the photo.

"...oh."

It was a black and white photo they had all taken on Rosalie's sixteenth birthday.

They all wore their party hats, cramming in close together for the picture.

Charles and Aya were on the side. He held his wife bridal style, and the married couple faced the camera with their eyes closed and their tongues sticking out.

"Don't drop me, now, Charlie. I mean it!"

"Drop you? Aya, you know I'd never let you go."

Next to them stood Gene, who had Mary Alice's face in his hands and his lips on her cheek. Mary Alice was caught in mid-laugh, her and Lucy's arms were wrapped around each other, and Lucy was looking at the camera with a small and begrudging smile.

"Aw, ain't you sweet!"

"No one can be sweet as you, Mary Alice."

"Would both of you shut up? You're making me sick."

"Oh! Lucy Goosey needs a hug!"

"How many times have I told you not to call me that!"

"Don't listen to her, she can't help but smile every time she hears it."

Chilali had Levi in a headlock. She was smirking while Levi had his arms thrown up in exasperation.

"Chi, come on!"

"I can't help but love on my baby brother."

"You mean you can't help but bully me."

"Two things can be true."

Ephraim stood next to Chilali, smiling broadly at the camera and leaning his head over so it was atop hers. He cradled a grumpy-looking Bob in his arms, after having managed to put her now crooked party hat back on between her ears.

"Say cheese, Bob!"

Bob didn't look the least bit amused, and her paw was raised in the air to smack his unsuspecting face.

And in the center of it all were Bella and Rosalie. They were the only ones sitting in a chair. Bella was propped up in Rosalie's lap, arms around her neck as she grinned mischievously at Rosalie.

She said something ridiculous. Something that almost made me laugh.

Rosalie was also ignoring the camera, smiling widely at Bella with her arms around her waist.

"Guess you could say we threw one Hale of a party."

"That wasn't funny then and it isn't funny now, you pest."

She couldn't even pretend to be annoyed.

"A pest that thinks you're beautiful."

"...ugh. You're ridiculous."

Rosalie stared at herself in the picture.

I was so happy...I've never looked so happy.

Seeing all of them there, packed together with goofy expressions and bright smiles, evoked the same feeling as the painting of Mary Alice and Aya.

This is what happiness looks like.

"...thank you, Esme."

Staring at the photo reminded her of that feeling.

I wonder if I will ever be this happy again.

And as she left the house, stepping into the freezing cold and the ankle-deep snow, she stopped.

She already knew the answer.

Bella asked what I wanted. It was always her.

Her thoughts drifted to bright smiles and brown eyes among a field of sunflowers.

It was always her family.

Her shoes weren't suitable for this weather, and the cold began to bite at her skin.

And yet, I still ask myself such ridiculous questions.

If she wasn't careful she would conjure up a fantasy land, one in which she ran away with Bella to Washington. But those were the idealistic thoughts of a lovesick child.

Thoughts I can't afford to entertain.

Rosalie looked out at the frozen wasteland.

Long icicles dangled from the roofs of houses. Some of the snow had been cleared on the sidewalks and roads, but they were unable to even make it so the concrete was visible. Snowdrifts were piled high and proud, looking like miniature mountains.

This weather was widely hated, and Rosalie had once detested it herself.

But looking at it now she finally understood.

It's beautiful and dangerous.

She watched as her father exited their house, bundled in his coat as he attempted to make his way to their mailbox.

He looked ridiculous, stumbling around out there, not at all like the well-respected banker of Rochester that everyone had come to know.

It humbles people.

Robert gave up, looking beyond annoyed as he shuffled back into the house.

I tried to warn you. But you didn't listen.

Winter was cruel and unforgiving.

A rose had thorns, but if one was careful enough, they could still pluck the rose from its stem.

A rose has thorns...they make people bleed, but people are still drawn to the rose. They still try to rip it from its stem, despite the thorns.

Rosalie watched her breath slip past her lips and vanish into the air.

The thorns are obvious. They're a warning. The rose wishes to be left alone, but they're ignored, and so are their thorns.

People fought against rose bushes and won, ripping out the thorns and leaving the flower unprotected and vulnerable. Roses were given as romantic gestures, despite the thorns they grew in order to defend themselves.

But winter...winter is different.

Where a rose was beautiful and widely admired, winter was beautiful and widely hated.

Winter is beautiful. Untouchable. Despised.

The thorns of a rose were scoffed at, but winter was respected.

People could speak poorly of the season all they wanted. They could turn a blind eye to its approach. They could hide from it in their homes and try to fight it with their coats and gloves and hats and heat.

But no matter what they did, no matter how hard they tried to fight it, it wouldn't matter.

They would all yield to the snow and ice and the chill that came with winter.

They saw the signs, but they still had the audacity to act surprised when the snow fell.

Slowly, more snowflakes began to fall, and cold blue eyes watched as they drifted to the ground.

She took off her coat, arms now bare to the frigid winter air.

Winter was overlooked and it came with a vengeance.

She didn't move as the goosebumps on her arms appeared.

Thorns are overlooked because people have learned how to fight them.

Rosalie stood there, not so much as shivering as the cold seeped into her clothes and burned her flesh.

You can't fight winter.

She embraced the numbness that pooled into her fingers and toes.

Everyone will yield to winter, just as they always do.

She embraced the cold that soaked into her bones.

I fought it for as long as I could. But this was always inevitable.

She looked up at the grey clouds above.

Grey.

Threats of a storm.

The color of Bella's eyes.

My house is a graveyard. My family is gone. The love of my life is gone...

She looked at the photo.

My happiness is gone.

Snowflakes fell on the photo and she tucked it away.

My warmth is gone.

She understood winter.

She understood the ice and the snow.

She understood the cold that was so intense that it burned through flesh and soaked into bone.

Everyone yields to winter, just as they always have.

Rosalie looked to the clouds again and began to walk home, body numb and unfeeling, and eyes dry.

Everyone yields to winter.

She had shed the last of her tears.

She couldn't afford to let any more fall.

And everyone will yield to me.

---

She had always been good at avoiding things.

She had always been good at hiding.

The werecat's ear flicked as a snowflake struck it. She was still getting used to her werecat form.

The shift from human to werecat wasn't instinctual like it was supposed to be. It was as though there was some mental block that prevented her from just...being.

Her tiger form was easier, but even then it took a deep concentration.

And you know why. Just as Aya and Charles do.

But her father never spoke of it, so she didn't, either.

Because, just as he was, Bella was good at avoiding things that brought her discomfort.

Just as he was, Bella was good at hiding.

Like when she used to make her mother mad, she knew where she could go to escape.

Ever since she was a child she had been a good climber, whereas her mother could hardly climb a tree much less to the roof of their house.

But somehow, the woman had always found a way to catch her or corner her.

The memories were murky, and Aya had offered to restore them for her, but Bella had refused.

Because she was good at avoiding things. And she knew remembering her time with her mother with any sort of vivid clarity would only break her down.

It wasn't a past worth confronting.

At least, her father didn't seem to think so.

And she agreed.

No one needed to see her fall apart, at least, no more than they already had.

The werecat lept down from her perch, shifting back into her human skin with ease. It was never difficult to change back.

Because changing into an animal means that she was right all along and–

A low growl escaped her as she ran to her home, kicking through the ankle-deep snow with ease.

She loved winter. The cold beauty that it held. But she found it difficult to enjoy due to all that had been going on.

Her tail lashed angrily behind her as the world went by in a blur.

I keep thinking about...stop It.

This is why Bella declined to have her memories restored and she avoided thinking about her mother in too much detail and she avoided thinking about...

Her.

But it felt near impossible not to think about...

See, even now you want to think about her. She was right. You really are a dolt.

How could she outrun her memories? Her thoughts? And how much longer could she outrun her past?

She didn't know.

But Bella would continue to do what she did best.

Because, while she couldn't always avoid her thoughts, she could at least avoid her feelings.

The house came into view and she slowed her run into a walk.

I can at least control myself.

"Shit!"

Or, so she had thought.

Bella launched the doorhandle deep into the woods, snarling as she faced her home. "Stupid fucking house. Stupid weak everything!" Her tail lashed behind her as she pushed the door open, and another snarl escaped her when it creaked loudly and blew off its hinges.

It fell to the ground with a loud slam, evoking a laugh from Gene as he plopped down on the couch. "Geez, kid, what'd that door do to you-"

"Shut the fuck up!" She snapped, stalking into the house and going up the steps.

Before she made it to the top, Chilali stepped out of her room, blocking her path with a scowl. "Don't come into our house with that attitude. I don't need you breaking everything."

Bella felt her canines elongate, and she bared them at her sister. "Move."

"Come back when you're not angry. I'm serious."

Her tail lashed angrily, smacking into the banister and nearly making her hiss at the pain. "You can't tell me what to do. I'm stronger than you now, remember?"

"Bells, come on." Gene stood up. "We know you're getting used to the change-"

"Don't make excuses for her." Chilali all but growled. "This is about Rosalie, isn't it?"

"I, uh...I love you."

The golden rose she wore around her neck felt like a noose.

Because even after all the hurt her friend had caused, she couldn't bear to take it off.

"I love you too."

Bella's eyes widen and, with her long white claws, she took a swipe at Chilali's head. "Fuck you!" But her sister was prepared, ducking her attack and slamming her foot into Bella's abdomen.

The werecat flew backward, hissing as her body corrected itself in midair. She flipped, bracing herself against the wall above the now doorless entryway.

Without a moment's hesitation, she launched herself forward, claws extended as she aimed for Chilali.

Don't fucking talk about her. Don't fucking say her name. Don't–

"Bella Swan!" Her eyes widened and, at the last second, she angled her body sideways. Instead of striking her sister, she managed to sink her claws into the wall next to her.

She panted, blinking rapidly as she ripped her claws out of the drywall. Her canines shrunk, and her claws sheathed, turning back into fingernails and making her slip to the ground.

Aya stood at the end of the hall, glaring at Bella in a way that made her head duck and her shoulders raise. Her tail went still, lowering as the woman made her way towards her.

"Oh, you got some nerve tryin' to attack your sister."

Chilali sighed, looking apologetic as she spared a glance at Bella. "It's alright, she's adjusting-"

"Ain't nothing alright about it. She could of hurt you."

Levi...

He had three claw marks that ran diagonally from the tip of his nose and across his lips. They were thick scars that had only healed quickly due to his shifting abilities.

Every time she looked at him she was reminded of what she truly was.

An animal.

She had tried to hurt Chilali the same way.

But the very thought of Chilali bearing the same scars as Levi was enough to make her stomach lurch.

Too wild. She was right.

Aya shook her head. "You run along now, Chi. Take Gene with you. I gotta talk to the cub."

Bella kept her head bowed as Chilali and Gene left the house. When she could no longer hear them she chanced a glance at Aya.

"I'm sorry-"

"Hush now. I ain't the one you gotta apologize to." She chastised, but her voice softened, and gentle hands reached out and held her face in her hands. "Oh, baby. I know you're hurting." Bella couldn't stop the tears from falling. "But you can't be takin' that hurt out on us. We all miss Rosalie and Mary Alice." Aya's own tears began to fall. "But ain't a thing to do but move forward."

Bella's tail wrapped around her own leg, and a shuttered breath escaped her as Aya wrapped her in a comforting hug. "They were supposed to be here." She whimpered, burying her face in Aya's neck.

Rosalie won't even write me back. And the hospital refused to release Mary Alice.

"I know baby, I know-" Aya tensed, pulling away from Bella.

Her eyes went from brown to milky white.

"A-Aya?"

She was silent for a moment, shaking violently and nearly collapsing to the ground, had Bella not caught her.

"Someone! Help! Aya needs help!" She yelled, holding the Vodou Queen close to her as she continued shaking. "Please!" Tears streamed from her cheeks. "Goddammit! We need help!" But no one came, no one heard her.

The shaking stopped, and Aya's milky white eyes stared up at the ceiling, unfocused and unblinking.

Bella swallowed thickly, gently patting her cheek. "Aya? Aya?" Nothing. "P-Please, Aya. Wake up. Please." She begged, holding her close. "I can't lose you too. Please. Please wake up. I can't...I can't...Aya please. I'll be good, I promise. I won't ever yell or start fights. I won't ever be bad again, I promise!" She buried her face in her chest, sobbing when she heard no heartbeat. "No! Aya! Aya! Wake up! I need you, please wake up!"

A new voice answered her. "Your Aya is fine, girl." Bella flinched, looking up to see milky white eyes staring at her. "Let me go." Slowly she removed her arms from around Aya, or whoever this person was, and took a step back. "Good. Who am I speaking to?"

"I-I'm Bella." She stammered, voice shaky as she regarded the woman with wide eyes.

"You're a werecat. Good. More useful to me than those little shifters my sister keeps around." She turned on her heel and walked into Aya's study. "Don't stand there gawking, girl. Follow me." Bella jumped forward, the hair on her tail puffing out as she quickly followed the woman.

Sister?

"Who are you-"

"Quiet. I won't be here long." She said dismissively, eyes darting around to the different herbs and books that were scattered around the room. "Always so disorganized." She muttered, fingers grazing the shelves before she scoffed. "But she was the prodigy." She pulled out a book. "Werecat, come."

Bella hesitantly stepped forward, bristling when a hand snatched her wrist and pulled her closer. Whoever this was, she lacked Aya's gentle touch, and Bella nearly snarled at her before the woman spoke again.

"Werecat, how skilled are you?" She asked, releasing her before opening the book and skimming the pages.

Bonding Rituals? What is she-

"Girl." Bella blinked, looking up to see an annoyed expression on the woman's face. "How many vampires have you killed?"

She frowned at her in confusion. "Vampires?" She had just turned a few days ago. She was still learning how to be a werecat, and what it meant.

She was still learning about the history between the Quileutes, Swans, and Brandons.

No one had said anything about vampires.

A displeased shout came from the woman, making Bella jump in surprise. "Yes, vampires!" She tossed the book aside, grabbing a paper before rolling it up and smacking Bella over the head.

"Hey!"

"Quiet!" She snapped, smacking her over the head again. "What is your cat?" Before she could say anything the woman looked at her tail. "A tiger?" Her frustration ebbed away. "Powerful. Strong. Good." She turned on her heel, looking at the shelves before pulling out another book. "A good stalking cat. A good hunter." She mused. "This vampire is smart. Strong. Tell me, do you have any gifts?"

She was so confused as to what was going on, but she didn't want to be scolded and hit again. "I can turn invisible. I haven't mastered it or anything-"

"Good enough. You're still of use to me." She thrust the new book into Bella's hands. "This book is all about vampires. Read it on the way. We're running out of time."

"Wait-"

"You will use your invisibility to sneak in and get Mary Alice. Then you will run. Do not try to fight. You'll be able to outrun him."

"Mary Alice? What happened? Is she okay-" another smack of the paper and Bella hissed at her. "Do that again and I'll-"

"Risk hurting your precious Aya?" The woman laughed, though, she didn't sound amused. "I am but a spirit in her body. She is a conduit. Any pain inflicted upon this body will not harm me."

Her eyes widened. "You're...oh..." Bella had never seen Aya speak to the spirits before. She hadn't realized this was how she did it.

It's scary.

"No more foolish questions." The woman grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, dragging her closer. "Stand here. Make use of what little time we have, and start reading that book."

Before Bella could ask, the woman moved away from her, opening a jar that had black and red powder in it.

She muttered to herself, "I gave up my title, but through Aya...yes, this will work." Next, she grabbed a knife and sliced her palm.

Bella jumped forward in alarm. "Hey-"

"Quiet, tigress." The woman snapped, not even bothering to look at her as she dripped her blood onto the powder. "I told you to start reading."

"You're fucking crazy!"

"And you're loud. Hush." She mixed the blood with the powder before reaching out and pulling Bella's shirt down. She spoke in a language Bella couldn't understand, and her tail began to lash wildly behind her.

"What are you-" with her index finger she traced something on the side of her neck, and Bella felt her skin begin to burn. "O-Ow! Get off me-"

"Hush!"

The burning intensified and Bella shoved her away. "Get off!" The woman flew backward, slamming into the bookshelf and making her fall to the ground.

Wait. Aya.

The shelf began to tip over and Bella raced forward, catching it and setting it up right before it could crush Aya's body. "Shit, I'm so sorry-" the burning worsened, it was almost unbearable, and she nearly screamed but kept her mouth shut.

The woman stood to her feet, staring coldly at the werecat. "I told you, I can't feel anything. But Aya will." The burning stopped.

Bella felt tears prick her eyes.

An animal. That's what I am. I hurt Aya and–

"I didn't mean-"

"I don't care. It's likely my sister won't, either." She dismissed her concerns with a wave of her hand. "You are now bonded to Mary Alice, werecat. Much like a newborn is bonded to their maker. Or a were-animal to their creator."

"What are you talking about-"

"Go to Biloxi Mississippi. The bond will lead you to Mary Alice. Save my daughter." She was quiet for a moment. "I need a tigress, not a cub. Do you understand me?" She stared at Bella. "Fail me, and her death will be on your hands."

Bella shook her head vigorously. "Wait, I can find my father-"

"We've wasted enough time as it is." She waved her off, going to the other side of the room, fingers grazing along different vials on the shelf before she picked up a vial of blue liquid. "Hm." She then looked around the room. "If she's bitten, her blood should be enough to repulse the vampire, but she's not a full-fledged Vodou Queen. The poison won't kill him, only deter him from draining her."

Bella felt frantic with the information that she was given, trying to process it as the woman picked up a small satchel and placed the vial inside. "Wait, poison?"

"Our blood is poisonous to vampires, just a drop makes them retreat, and more than that will kill them. It combats their venom. Prevents us from turning. But there are exceptions, and Mary Alice is one of them. She hasn't undergone the ritual, her magic isn't powerful enough to..." she sighed and shook her head. "There's no use in explaining this to an animal."

She tossed the satchel to the werecat, who caught it and snarled at her, claws unsheathing involuntary and tail lashing wildly behind her. "I'm not an animal!"

Her anger was ignored. "If Mary Alice is bitten, have her drink what's in that vial. It'll delay her turning, and it should give you enough time to make it back to Aya." She explained. "Go, now. Succeed, and I will have a gift for you." The woman all but ushered her out of the room, swinging the paper at Bella and making the hair on her tail bristle.

"Would you just-"

"Go! Foolish girl, before it's too late!"

...

Much to Bella's surprise, reading and running weren't as difficult as she thought they would be.

"Super strength, super speed, hearing, smelling, blah blah." She muttered, looking up briefly to launch herself over a snarling grizzly bear. She landed far from it, not sparing it another glance as she kept running. "Hmm...physically weaker than werewolves and werebears, but stronger than most werecats and shifters...great."

Her bond to Mary Alice tugged her forward, and while she should be more panicked, she found herself strangely calm. She didn't know why, but she was confident she would save Mary Alice.

Her bond hummed, and she refrained from touching her neck.

I have to save her. Or I'll have nothing left.

Bella frowned, unsure of why that thought crossed her mind.

Mary Alice was her best friend, and she loved her dearly, but she also had her father, Aya, her siblings, and Ro-

Stop that.

She wondered if her abrupt, all-encompassing affection for Mary Alice was because of the bond.

The thought rattled her, drove her to run faster as she turned the page.

"But werecats have a superior speed to werewolves, werebears, vampires, and shifters. And their stealth is unparalleled, making them extremely dangerous." Bella grinned. "Cool." She was almost finished with the, thankfully short, book. "Vampire venom has no effect on were-animals, only shifters who die after a single bite. Vampires are the most likely to manifest gifts...but you can embed a spell to protect your mind from their power."

Aya had already taken that step, though Bella hadn't realized it was to protect her from vampires.

The tattoo on her back was said to protect her mind, she had been confused when she had gotten it, but now she understood.

Mary Alice, her father, and herself all had gotten tattoos from Aya. Each of them had three, but she had only explained one of them to Bella.

Are the other two spells that she embedded in me?

The one on her back was of the weeping willow Aya had in front of her old home. Bottles and jars hung from the bowed branches, and some of them were filled with fireflies. Others were empty, with fireflies flying free amongst the tree.

The tattoo had been painless. Aya had chanted words Bella didn't understand and painted something cold and wet onto her back.

"This spell will protect your mind. It will turn into something or somewhere that gives you the most peace of mind."

It was fitting.

Because every night in her dreams she returned to the weeping willow. Holding hands with Rosalie as they watched the fireflies-

She didn't want you. You were a distraction.

Bella growled under her breath, finishing the book and stuffing it into the satchel.

You have to save Mary Alice. Even if that means dying for her. Stay focused. Don't let Rosalie be a distraction.

Her claws were unsheathed and her body shuttered. After a moment of concentration, she was able to change into a large, golden tiger.

She held the satchel in her teeth and dug her claws into the earth, launching herself forward with a greater speed than before.

The world went past her in a blur, and for the first time in months, her mind stopped wandering to Rosalie.

All she could think about was saving Mary Alice.

She is mine, and I am hers.

...

The burning on her neck intensified, and Bella stopped, grey eyes roving over the swamp warily. She inhaled, ears twitching and fur standing on end when the sickly sweet scent of danger burned her nostrils.

The bond guided her, steering her clear of civilization as she raced to Mary Alice.

Danger. Danger. Danger. Stay away.

But she couldn't, not when Mary Alice needed her.

She didn't know how long it had taken her to get to Mississippi, but she had forgone sleep for the sake of speed.

Werecats could go a few nights without it and be unaffected. Her cat was active at night, making it easier to push ahead.

She had only stopped once to hunt, just to keep her energy up.

She would have to carry Mary Alice all the way from Mississippi to Washington, and if she was bitten...Bella worried about what that would mean.

Aya will find a way to fix this. She knows everything.

Bella paused, digging next to a tree in order to stash her satchel. She rubbed against the bark, marking her territory, and setting a marker so she could come back for it after she had saved Mary Alice.

The satchel could get in her way should a fight break out. Or, she could get really unlucky and the vampire could get his hands on the satchel.

But what if Mary Alice is close to turning? What if-

She didn't have time for indecisiveness, not now.

I'm fast. I'll make it.

The tigress stalked forward, snarling when a gator crept up to her. With a quick swipe of her paw, she managed to rake her claws along its nose. It recoiled, turning quickly to swing its tail at her.

But everything was so much slower in comparison.

Bella darted away, following the bond and the terrible smell as night began to fall.

...

The building of the psych ward was backed up to the forest, and she noticed a back window had been left open. The vampire's scent led to it, and the lock had been snapped off in order for him to slip inside.

It's fresh. The vampire just got here.

The symbol on her neck hummed to life and Bella took a step forward, stopping when she detected the scent of another vampire. The fur on her tail stood on end and it lashed angrily behind her.

What the hell?

She had never fought a vampire before. She had never even seen one.

How am I supposed to fight two?

It was dark out, the only noises she heard were the footsteps of some, presumably, orderlies, as well as the soft breaths of the sleeping patients.

Where are they? Where's-

The screaming started, and Bella's eyes widened when a man came crashing out of the back window with a girl in his arms.

Mary Alice.

The vampire had light brown skin and a shaved head. He looked strong, with large biceps flexing as he held Mary Alice close. His lips looked as though they had been burned, and the skin around it rippled into cracks.

Her friend was screaming in agony, thrashing in his grip as she howled in pain. She could smell her blood, and her screams made Bella feel terrified.

It was hard to think, hard to move.

She had never heard anyone scream like that, not even Levi when she had...

Nothing matters. Only Mary Alice.

And the fact that it was Mary Alice that was screaming like this only added to the worry that crushed her chest and made it difficult to breathe.

Save her. Or you have nothing.

Bella bristled, tail puffing out as she prepared to attack him.

His eyes met hers and she froze.

Gold. He's an animal drinker.

His gaze fell to the mark on Bella's neck and he gestured with his head for her to follow.

"Peace, tigress. I am Frantz. Move swiftly."

She heard a snarl from inside the ward from the other vampire, and she was quick to turn tail and run with the gold-eyed man.

"The Vodou Queen sent you. I was worried no one would come." He grimaced as Mary Alice continued to scream. "Had to turn her, he crushed her windpipe."

He hurt her.

Her body began to tremble and tears burned her eyes.

I'll kill him for even touching her-

"We don't have time for emotions, tigress. Take Mary Alice back to our aunt. Don't stop for anything." He instructed.

Your aunt? Mary Alice's cousin is a vampire?

She blinked.

Wait, but what about you?

But the thought was faint in her mind. All she could focus on was keeping Mary Alice safe.

The snarls and growls of the other vampire were becoming louder, he was catching up to them.

Bella couldn't help but look back at him, eyes widening when he tossed his sunglasses aside and red eyes glared back at her. His dirty blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail, and he was wearing the same orderly clothes as Frantz.

"What's this? A kitty cat?" His voice was smooth but had a heat to it that made it sinister, and Bella felt her tail bristle and her claws involuntarily unsheathed.

I'll fucking kill you.

Right as Frantz was about to hand Mary Alice over, the red-eyed vampire launched himself forward, and Bella reacted instinctively.

I'll fucking kill you.

A roar pierced the air, and her teeth elongated as she intercepted the man.

They slammed into the ground, and Bella dug her claws into his chest, holding on as they slid along the forest floor.

Frantz continued running with Mary Alice, and Bella felt an immense relief that her friend was going to be safe.

She focused on the vampire, sinking her teeth into his shoulder, breaking through his skin, and filling her mouth with the pungent taste of venom. The vampire screamed in anger and pain as she raked her claws down his chest, tearing through his clothes and skin with ease.

You hurt Mary Alice. I'll kill you. I'll-

Bella yowled when a cold hand grabbed her tail.

He yanked her off, throwing her into a tree and knocking the breath out of her. She didn't give herself time to think, darting swiftly out of the way from the vampire's next attack.

The tree behind her toppled to the ground and Bella whirled on him, hissing as her body shook violently.

Change into your werecat! Change, dammit!

But she couldn't focus. Not with the very real threat that stood before her.

The vampire bared his teeth at her. "You little bitch!" He rushed forward, delivering a flurry of blows that Bella managed to avoid.

She was faster, but she still didn't know how to fight, and that ended up costing her.

The vampire feigned a right hook and Bella fell for it, ducking beneath the punch only to take a left fist to the jaw.

The strike knocked her off her feet, and a sickening crack filled the air as she flew backward. The werecat couldn't even scream, her head was swimming and the pain that radiated in her jaw was beginning to spread.

Bella slammed into the ground, bouncing on it as though she were a stone skipping across a lake's surface. Her tail smacked painfully against the ground, and if she could think through the pain, she would have made it go away to better preserve herself.

But the pain was all-encompassing.

Her clothes ripped and her flesh tore open. Bruises bloomed on her skin as she finally rolled to a stop. Her mouth filled with blood and her body ached.

Vampires are stronger. I can't beat him. I don't even know how to fight.

Bella heard the vampire jump, and with all the strength she could muster she rolled out of the way and onto her feet. She jumped back just as the vampire slammed into the earth, creating a deep crater right where she had been laying.

The vampire growled, red eyes glowing with hatred as he glared at her.

I'm going to die.

Never in her life had she been more afraid.

"Why did I think I could trust you to do anything?"

The werecat wiped the blood from her lips, swallowing thickly as her body quickly began to mend itself. Slowly the pain ebbed away, but it did little to combat her fear.

"Useless. Just as you've always been."

The vampire began to advance on her.

She was right.

Bella darted out of the way, heart hammering in her chest when she heard the tree behind her explode into splinters.

I should have sent someone else. I can't handle this. I'll die here and...

The vampire raced towards her, and Bella narrowly dodged his fist, stumbling backward as he attempted to kick her legs out from under her.

"Fail me, and her death will be on your hands."

A failure, that's all she's ever been.

Her father and Aya had tried to tell her otherwise, her siblings too, but she had always known the truth.

Every day my mother reminded me of what I was.

She hastily dove to the ground, avoiding the kick aimed at her face, and rolled to her feet. Bella watched the vampire with wide eyes, unsure of what to do. Too scared of his strength.

Too scared of him.

And I still had the audacity to come here, as though I could possibly save Mary Alice.

But, despite her fear, despite knowing that she would inevitably die, Bella didn't run. If she could buy Frantz some time, then she would.

Never had Bella felt more afraid. She didn't want to die, she wasn't ready to die.

Inevitably, just as they always did, her thoughts drifted to Rosalie.

Would she care if I died?

Such a stupid thing to ponder, especially as she narrowly avoided each strike the vampire threw at her.

"You know...sometimes I think about disappearing. But then, I'm reminded why I stay."

"Stop running and fight me you fucking coward!" The vampire snarled.

"I'm glad you stay. I'd miss you."

Bella remembers how Rosalie had looked at her then.

With soft blue eyes filled with adoration, and a gentle smile that made Bella forget there was ever a time she had been sad.

Bella remembers the day that she left.

She remembers how Rosalie had looked at her then.

With teary blue eyes filled with anger, and a scowl that made Bella forget there was ever a time the two of them had been happy.

"Why can't you get it through your thick skull that a life with you is impossible!"

And Bella remembers with such clarity, that all she had wanted at that moment was to...

Disappear.

The vampire stopped his attacks, looking around with wide eyes as he snarled, "Where did you go!" Except there was something else in his red eyes. Excitement. "I can still smell you, kitty cat."

Bella froze, holding her breath as she slowly took a step back.

I did it.

But her relief didn't last long.

Carelessly she stepped on a twig, and the vampire launched himself towards her without hesitation.

"Sloppy!" He laughed, and Bella braced herself for the hit.

Mary Alice made it. That's what matters.

Before he could reach her, Frantz flew towards him, ramming his fist into his face and making him fly into the trees. When he struck him it sounded like stones slamming against one another.

Her invisibility faded, and tears of relief pooled in her eyes as she looked up at her savior.

"Frantz-"

"Tigress! You're faster than me, take Mary Alice and get her to safety!" He instructed, bracing himself as the other vampire launched himself towards him. He caught his hands in his own, fighting against the blonde's strength as best he could as he looked at Bella. "Go! And tell Aya I did good!"

Her nephew will die if I don't-

The vampire looked at her, grinning sadistically and making her step back involuntarily.

Coward. Between the two of you, you could take him.

"Once I'm finished with him, I'll skin you alive!"

You can't do anything. You'll screw it up, just as you always do.

Frantz growled, "Go! We don't have time!"

Bella wanted to argue, she wanted to be brave and help Frantz.

"I can't just leave you-" her bond burned on her neck.

"You can and you will! Now, go!"

Mary Alice.

"I'm sorry." She turned on her heel, running on all fours as tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you."

She knew he could hear her, and she nearly sobbed when he said, "Thank me by taking care of my cousin."

Bella's claws dug into the earth as she propelled herself forward, following the sounds of her friend's screams and the pull of her bond.

Frantz had tucked Mary Alice beneath a hollowed-out tree, and with the utmost care, Bella picked her up and cradled her to her chest.

Go get the satchel. Slow down her turn.

Having Mary Alice in her arms, despite her screeching in agony, made Bella feel instantly more at ease.

Even with the vampires behind them snarling and hissing as they attacked one another, Bella didn't look back, and she held her friend close as she raced through the swamp.

"I got you." Bella breathed, nuzzling into her black curls and purring in an attempt to soothe Mary Alice. "I got you."

Mary Alice quieted, whimpering as she curled into Bella and buried her face into her neck, right where her neck had been marked with their bond.

"I'm sorry it hurts." She murmured, eyes filling with tears as she retrieved her satchel. "I'm sorry I wasn't fast enough and...I'm so sorry about Frantz."

When you wake up, how am I supposed to tell you that I left your cousin to die? What will you think of me?

Bella swallowed thickly, pushing the distressing thought from her mind.

Focus on getting her home first. Right now, that's all that matters.

She had missed Mary Alice so much. It had almost been a full year since she was picked up by her father.

You called home to warn your mother about danger, and he took you away.

"You have to drink this, okay? Can you do that?" Bella held the blue vial to her lips, relieved when Mary Alice managed to open her mouth and swallow it all. "Good job."

A quiet sigh escaped the girl, and she relaxed in Bella's arms, as though she were asleep.

It was then that Bella saw a glowing, gold mark appear on Mary Alice's neck.

We don't have time. We have to get to Aya.

The urgency forced her to look away, and she continued her run back to Washington.

I hope Frantz made it.

She tightened her grip on her sleeping friend, pressing a kiss to her curls and sighing in relief as she burrowed deeper into her arms.

"I got you, and I won't let you go."

Never again.

...

When she returned home the door was still off its hinges, thankfully.

Bella stepped in with ease, darting up the steps and holding Mary Alice tight to her chest.

"How could you run off like that! We were worried sick!" Bella hunched her shoulders, baring her teeth at Lucy as she walked into Aya's study. Lucy was standing next to Aya, who perked up at the sight of Mary Alice and Bella. "Bella, this is serious-"

"Ain't got time for a lecture, girl." Aya hustled Lucy out of the room. "Go shift. Use that pack link to let the rest of the family know that Bella and Mary Alice are home. And to be on the lookout for any hostile vampire that could have tracked them here. Don't forget your daddy. If he ain't a complete fool, he stayed close to one of your siblings." Lucy scowled at Bella, who hissed quietly back at her before the shifter left the house.

How could she be mad at me when I brought Mary Alice home?

"Oh, dammit, girl." She was engulfed in a tight hug by Aya. "Had me scared half to death-"

We don't have time.

"Aya, she's turning and someone took over your body...I think your sister and she told me to go get Mary Alice and I accidentally hurt you and-"

Aya kissed her forehead, effectively quieting her as she gently took Mary Alice out of her arms. "Hush now, baby." She turned and set Mary Alice onto the floor, where she had created a large ring filled with strange symbols.

It glowed black when Mary Alice was placed in the center, and Aya sighed in relief. "Usually, those spirits can't control my body like Nadia did. But she was a Vodou Queen once, so she's a bit stronger than most. I'm always conscious when the Iwa visit. I heard all my sister had to say." She then rolled her eyes as she pulled out a paintbrush. "I ain't even disorganized. How can I be disorganized when I know where everything's at?"

Normally, Bella would have laughed, but she couldn't stop staring at Mary Alice.

The mark on her neck had revealed itself. It was a gold and black vine. The different colored vines intertwined with one another, curling around Mary Alice's neck. From the vines sprouted tiny sunflowers.

"Ah," Aya murmured, "The bond... oh, sunflowers." She smiled. "They mean adoration and loyalty. Ain't that fitting for her?" She then examined Bella's neck. "You got them...alstroemerias. They're a type of lily..." she snapped her fingers. "Devotion and support, that's what they mean. And they're yellow...maybe to match my niece, or they got more meaning. I'll have to see."

That's on my neck?

"C'mere, child." Aya held out her hand to her, and Bella accepted it, getting on the floor next to her. "You did such a good job."

The praise made her eyes well with tears, and she looked at Aya in disbelief. "B-But Mary Alice was attacked. The vampire broke her windpipe so she had to be bitten so that she wouldn't die and I was too slow-"

"My niece will live 'cause you got her here quickly and safely."

The werecat looked away from her. "But Frantz...I ran. I couldn't help him." She confessed, feeling shame being to suffocate her. "But maybe Frantz won. Maybe he beat that vampire and he-"

"He visited me."

He's dead.

Bella felt her heart squeeze painfully in her chest.

"Can't you do anything right!"

She clenched her jaw and hunched her shoulders.

Unbidden thoughts of rough hands grabbing her arms and a harsh voice yelling rose to the surface.

Instead, the hand in hers remained there and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

Aya continued, "You impressed him. Told me that vampire nearly got to him and Mary Alice but you stopped him, gave Frantz enough time to get my niece to safety."

She couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I...I..."

What was there to say? What could she say?

"Baby, you just found out you was a werecat. How you supposed to beat a vampire?" Aya murmured, cupping her face in her hands. "I'm just so glad you're safe." She swallowed thickly, wiping Bella's tears away. "My nephew...I'll...I'll miss him but there ain't a thing you could do, or else you might not be here either."

Bella choked back a sob, relieved when Aya pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry." She didn't hug her back. She didn't feel deserving of Aya's forgiveness. "Frantz...he said to tell you that he did good." She pulled away to look at her, heart-shattering at the sight of the tears that flowed freely down her face.

A sad chuckle escaped the Vodou Queen and she wiped her eyes. "Yeah...he did, didn't he?"

Bella's eyes filled with tears. "I-I'm sorry. I should have-"

"You did exactly what you had to do." Aya soothed, kissing the back of her hand and smiling warmly at her. "Now, your daddy and your bossy big brothers and sisters are gonna give you all kinds of grief. But you listen to me, and you listen to me good." Bella nodded and looked at her attentively. "Fuck 'em." A surprised laugh burst from her lips and Aya grinned. "I'm so proud of you, Bella."

Her laughter ebbed away, and she looked at Aya in shock. "Really?"

"Course I am." She turned to Mary Alice and began painting over the bite mark on her wrist. No paint was needed as the paintbrush glowed and created various colors on its own. "You went against a vampire, and you ain't even know what they was." She flashed her a smile. "You was real brave."

Aya was one of the few people she felt she could be completely honest with. She loved her family, she trusted all of them with her life, but no one gave her more sound advice than Aya.

No one made her feel safer than Aya.

Bella sighed, hugging her knees to her chest and wrapping her tail around her ankles. "I only fought the vampire because of my bond to Mary Alice. I didn't feel brave...I was really scared." She confessed, and Aya laughed at that.

"That's the only time we can be brave. Bravery ain't for the fearless." She removed her paintbrush from her wrist. "It's for folks that do what needs to be done, no matter how scary things are."

She had never thought of it like that.

"Oh...that makes sense."

But I still ran away.

But she didn't bring it up. She knew the woman would point out that Mary Alice had to be brought back quickly.

But that wasn't the only reason I ran. I was scared too.

"Course it does." Aya boasted. "All the sense this family lacks, I make up for."

Bella laughed, but she couldn't disagree. "You're right."

"Always am."

Over the vampire bite, Aya had painted white deer antlers that were outlined in gold. She stood to her feet and Bella did the same. The Vodou Queen began chanting in another language, and the glow of the circle shot into the air before striking Mary Alice's wrist.

Bella straightened in concern. "What-"

Aya put a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. It means it's working." She sighed, tossing the paintbrush on her cluttered desk. "Mary Alice will only be attracted to animal blood. Human blood won't hold any appeal, it'd be like..." she tapped her chin. "Tryin' to feed a gator celery." She wrinkled her nose. "Then again, it'd be like tryin' to feed anyone celery. Just nasty."

Bella shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to do. She just wanted to hold her friend, she just wanted her to wake up.

The Vodou Queen got on her tiptoes, kissing Bella's cheek. "You did so good, baby. Can't even tell you how proud you make me." She chuckled. "Almost enough to make me want some kids of my own...but Lord knows they'd drive me up the wall." She bent over and picked Mary Alice up in her arms, a soft smile on her lips as she looked at Bella.

But in warm brown eyes lingered sadness. And before she could ask what was wrong, Mary Alice was all but thrust in Bella's arms, and the sadness vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.

She doesn't want to talk about it.

"...'sides, you and this one, and all your siblings, ya'll are more than enough babies for me."

The werecat laughed, accepting Mary Alice from Aya. "Don't tell my father that. He was hoping-"

"When he can shoot out a baby then we can have all the damn kids he wants." Aya scoffed before shaking her head. "I ain't gettin' plump for no kids. Not when I got fifty of ya'll running around already." She smiled fondly at Bella, patting her cheek and making Bella's eyes involuntarily water.

"I love you."

She remembered when she first met Aya.

As she had with her father and siblings, Bella had tried to give her hell.

Tried. Tried and failed. Miserably.

Aya was the one that had reigned her in and helped smooth out her rough edges.

When one of Charles' other children tried to mess with her, not that she wasn't undeserving of their dislike, it was Aya who scolded them and held Bella close.

"You be nice to my baby, you hear me?"

She treated all of them equally, which, had rubbed Bella the wrong way at first.

No one had made her feel as special as Aya did. Adults had regarded her with contempt, and before Aya, she had never known that they could regard her with fondness.

She had been possessive of Aya's love, not wanting to share her with the other children, not even with Mary Alice.

"Oh, baby, don't you know I got more than enough love to go around?"

Aya looked at her with loving brown eyes, as though Bella could do nothing to change how she felt. And it had taken her a while but, now, Bella believed her.

Everyone leaves. But not Aya. Never Aya.

"I love you too. So much my heart could just about burst!" She kissed her forehead and Bella smiled. "Mary Alice should be waking up soon. One of the side effects of the ritual. Take her into the woods, explain what you can, then Charlie and I will find you."

"Why the woods?"

"She may not wanna drink human blood, but she's still a vampire. She'll be a bit rowdy, don't know her own strength, and a bit disorderly...lustful, even." Aya winced. "She might try to claim you-"

Bella blinked. "Claim me?"

The book didn't mention anything about claiming.

"The bond ya'll have replicates the maker bond. You're not a vampire, so a bite from her would warn other vampires to stay away." Aya said, opening her study door and ushering Bella out. "Get on, now. Can't have Mary Alice and you tearing up my house." Aya gave her a look as she walked through the doorless entryway. "And don't even think about touching no damn doorknobs up in here."

...

"Thank me by taking care of my cousin."

Frantz had given his life so they could live.

For once, I won't fail.

Bella was perched in a tree, claws unsheathed and eyes roving the woods for any sign of a threat.

That vampire could still be out there. I have to keep Mary Alice safe.

But the very thought of him sent chills down her spine.

She hadn't even been able to change into her werecat, too frightened and worried about Mary Alice to think clearly. Too frightened and worried by the vampire to do much of anything.

Next time will be different. If I see him again, I'll kill him.

Mary Alice rested on the snow-covered ground beneath her, it had been thirty minutes and she was still sleeping.

She thought over all she knew about vampires. That book had been helpful, but Bella had been a bit frazzled when reading it. She hadn't paid much attention to the newborn section.

They wake up thirsty. They aren't used to their strength. They need their makers...

Bella sighed, she didn't recall much else, aside from the fact that they had nasty tempers.

Seems every supernatural creature does, aside from Vodou Queens.

It made her wonder if there were more creatures she didn't know about.

Witches? Wizards? Dragons?

She'd have to ask Aya.

When she glanced back down at her friend she nearly yelped when she saw red eyes staring up at her.

"You're awake! I was-" werecats were faster than vampires, but Bella was still adjusting to her reflexes, and vampires were still fast.

Mary Alice was up in seconds, launching herself at Bella and knocking her from her perch.

Bella couldn't angle herself to land on her feet, not when the cold, hard body of the vampire pressed against her with a familiar strength that was frightening. But she knew her friend wouldn't hurt her, not when they were connected by their bond.

The werecat clung to Mary Alice's shoulders as they fell, making her tail shrink into her spinal column so as not to bruise it, and she squeezed her eyes shut to brace for the impact.

But it never came.

Mary Alice removed one arm from around her waist, using it to cushion their fall, and Bella peeked an eye open. Her panic subsided when her friend remained frozen, staring at Bella with dark red eyes.

They didn't hold the malice that the blonde vampire's had. Instead, they looked at Bella with curiosity and adoration.

The cold snow soaked into her back but it was comforting, as was her friend's cold skin pressed against her.

The vampire tilted her head to the side, and before Bella could get a word in, she latched her teeth to her neck and bit down.

"Shit!" The initial pain made Bella jolt upward, only to be stopped by the cold body that pressed against her own. "Mary Alice-" a quiet purr escaped her friend as dark fingers tangled with her own.

It was a gesture of comfort, and when the pain subsided Bella felt herself relax.

She's mine. She wouldn't hurt me.

Her newborn held on for a moment longer, purrs mixing with Bella's as the werecat gently stroked her black curls.

She felt Mary Alice swallow but didn't panic, only angling her neck so the vampire had easier access. She felt as though she were in a daze, her mind was foggy and she felt boneless. It was strange. It was nice.

Her purrs grew louder, and she released Bella's hand to slip it beneath her neck and pull her closer. Mary Alice then removed her teeth from her throat, making Bella gasp when the pressure was gone.

She blinked rapidly, her mind was no longer hazy as she felt blood trickle down her neck.

Mary Alice leaned down again, lapping up the blood and running her tongue over her bite. "Mine." She murmured, pressing a kiss to her mark and making Bella shudder.

Alright. Time to take you hunting.

"Mary Alice-" cold, hard lips slammed against her own and Bella squeaked in surprise.

Her tongue invaded her mouth and Bella wrinkled her nose at the taste of her own blood. She turned her head away, effectively breaking the kiss.

Her friend was beautiful, and maybe when they were kids, Bella had had a small crush on her. But Mary Alice had just woken up, she needed to go hunting, and Bella had a lot to explain to her.

And she isn't Rosalie.

Bella hated that she gave Rosalie any thought, especially now of all times.

The vampire licked her lips, giving Bella a quizzical look. "Sorry." She didn't look very sorry. "I...I don't know why I did all that. Your blood don't taste that good." Her eyes widened as though what she said was offensive. "It ain't bad! Actually, I didn't even wanna drink from you, I just got curious."

Bella felt heat rise to her cheeks. "It's fine, how are you feeling?"

Very rarely were newborns this calm when waking up. Usually, aggression and lust were their dominating emotions, and while Mary Alice had kissed her it had been brief.

Mary Alice sighed, relaxing on top of Bella and resting her chin on her chest. "My throat burns mighty bad, but...I'm alright 'cause you're here." She gave her a sunny smile. "I don't know why, but I feel really close to you. Have we met before?"

The werecat regarded her with wide eyes. "Y-You don't remember?"

"You look familiar but I ain't recall where we met before." She looked sheepish, turning so she rested her cheek on Bella's chest and no longer looked her in the eye. "Earlier you called me Mary Alice. Is that my name?" She asked. "It ain't seem a bit long to you?"

Bella felt her eyes water, but she didn't let despair prevail.

Mary Alice was her newborn, she complained about her throat burning, and Bella would take care of her.

It was all she could focus on.

"Yeah, that's your name." Bella shifted so she could sit up, and her newborn curled into her lap. "Come on, let's go hunting. Your throat will feel better." They stood to their feet, and when Mary Alice interlaced their fingers Bella couldn't help but sigh in relief.

You're safe now. I've got you.

"What's your name?"

Bella swallowed thickly but, for the sake of her vampire, she kept her sadness at bay. "Bella."

Mary Alice smiled radiantly at her. "Oh, Bella! We were..." her brow furrowed. "We were...no...we're gonna be...sisters?" She looked at Bella with her large red eyes and seemed hesitant before asking, "Is that right?" As though she were worried about upsetting her.

Instead, Bella gave her a small smile and pulled her forward. "Yeah. You're the older one, but you're such a baby that I think I should be the big sister-"

"Hey!"

"What? It's true!"

The two bounded deeper into the forest, laughing and heckling one another as the sun went down.

Bella had always been good at avoiding things.

And to preserve her sanity, she avoided thinking too deeply about what Mary Alice's memory loss meant. And just how heartbroken it made her feel.

Her memory loss, my mother...Rosalie...

The werecat cheered as her newborn took down a buck, biting into his throat and making a mess as she drank greedily from him.

When Mary Alice finished, she dropped the animal carcass. Blood had sprayed from the messily severed artery, staining her hospital gown, caking her mouth, and splattering her cheeks in crimson.

She smiled at Bella, eyes filled with a happiness that was akin to the painting of her and Aya in the field of sunflowers.

Rosalie loved that painting–shut up. She's gone. It's over.

The werecat approached her new sister, picking up a handful of snow and cleaning the blood from her lips. "I'm going to have to get you a bib."

If I don't think about her, she can't hurt me.

Mary Alice laughed, soft and enticing as she leaned her head against Bella's shoulder.

"You didn't tell me this was gonna be so messy!"

I have so much to tell you.

Bella kissed the top of her head. "You'll get used to it. Then you won't be so messy."

Right now, she was reunited with Mary Alice. And that was more than enough to keep her mind occupied.

---

"Shhh," Bella whispered, smiling wickedly at Rosalie before she covered the blonde's bare body with the comforter and rolled off her bed. Rosalie felt her heart thunder in her chest and her cheeks redden as she hugged her blanket close to her chin and closed her eyes.

It was nerves and excitement that made it hard for her to suppress her smile, but she managed to feign sleep right as her father walked in.

"Rosalie? Are you alright? I thought I heard you yell."

She didn't dare open her eyes, forcing herself to relax her body despite the embarrassment that made her feel as though she were on fire.

Rosalie didn't know how Bella always knew when her parents were near, but she was incredibly grateful that she did.

"Oh." Robert lowered his voice when he noticed she was sleeping. "My mistake." He lingered for a moment longer before closing the door.

Rosalie peeked an eye open, unable to stop her grin when Bella reappeared, yanking the covers back and climbing in next to her. She slid her arm around Rosalie's waist, pulling her naked body against her own and leaning over her slightly.

It was somewhat difficult to see Bella in the darkness, but Rosalie didn't have to see her to know her face was as red as her own.

"Damn, princess. Trying to get us caught?" She whispered, ghosting her fingers over her abdomen and trailing them up her torso. "I don't want you to be quiet. I like all the pretty noises you make for me-"

Impatience led her to grip Bella by the back of her neck and pull her close. She slammed their lips together, goosebumps erupting on her skin when Bella's fingers changed direction. The brunette hummed, licking her way into her mouth before pulling away with a teasing nip to her lips.

Rosalie glared up at her and she laughed quietly. "You know, I really can't believe I got Miss Perfect into bed."

She bristled at this, anger mixing with arousal as she sat up. "I'm not perfect."

"Clearly. Or you wouldn't spend your nights getting fucked by a ruffian." Bella scoffed, flopping back onto the bed next to her and putting her hands behind her head. "To everyone else, you're this proper lady who can do no wrong. But I get to be your little distraction-"

"Bella-"

"Before your bullshit outings with Royce, you get to have me." She could hear the slight resentment in Bella's voice.

"That's-"

"He shouldn't even be able to fucking look at you." Bella hissed, staring up at the ceiling. "If he knew you were mine...if he knew all the ways I had you, I bet it would wipe that smug smile off his fucking face." A frustrated noise escaped her. "But I have to be your little secret because we can't afford for Miss Perfect to be associated with a woman in such a scandalous way. Me, of all people, could you imagine the gossip-"

Rosalie straddled her, putting a hand over her mouth so she could finally quiet her. Her eyes filled with frustrated tears as she glared down at Bella.

Where was this coming from?

"Shut up." She whispered fiercely. "I'm not perfect."

No matter how hard she tried to attain perfection, she had always come up short. It felt like an unattainable goal, one that burdened her, but one she had to overcome. She was a Hale, what other choice did she have?

"A distraction, do you even hear yourself right now?" She removed her hand from Bella's mouth, clenching her jaw as she gently cupped her face in her hands. "You've always been mine-"

"I know!" Bella hissed. "Why do you think I'm here every night? Why do you think I open doors for you and carry you when you're tired and hold you when you're sad?" Her voice began to waver. "Why do you think I keep coming back, even when I see you with Royce?" She put her hands over Rosalie's and removed them from her face. "I have always belonged to you. I have only ever belonged to you. Even when we were kids." Bella sat up, glaring at Rosalie who remained straddling her waist. "I come here every night and we have sex and...what the fuck am I supposed to think, Rose?"

Rosalie swallowed thickly, reaching for as she tried to blink back tears. "Bella." The brunette caught her hand and held it to her chest, right over her heart.

She could feel the way it stuttered before it sped up. "Even when I go home, hating myself for being your secret, there's nowhere else I'd rather be than with you."

"I-I'm sorry." She whispered, shame encompassing her so tightly it felt difficult to breathe. "I never meant to make you feel this way."

Bella scoffed at her and released her hand. "Whatever." She gripped her hips, about to push Rosalie off before she stopped herself. "It's my fault for letting myself think that we could ever-"

Rosalie grabbed Bella's hand and placed it over her own heart, breath catching in her throat when Bella quieted. Her grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly as she dropped her hand from her chest.

Rosalie sniffled, glad she was able to withhold her tears. It would only make Bella worry, and then she would take everything back in an attempt to stop the tears from flowing.

But she didn't want that.

She wanted Bella to tell her how she felt.

'I should do the same.'

She couldn't bury her feelings, no matter how hard she tried, and she knew her mother couldn't either.

Lillian loved Andrea so fiercely that she was surprised her father hadn't noticed.

And Rosalie loved Bella so fiercely that she ached when she was away from her.

"Often, I think of what a life with you would look like." She murmured, sighing in relief when Bella wrapped her arms around her waist and laid her head on her chest. "We'd get married, adopt some kids, get a nice house...maybe I can be persuaded into having one in the swamp." She put one arm around Bella's shoulders and the other began to card through her hair. "But only if it's a nice house. The swamps are beautiful but they're also repulsive. So we need at least a three-story mansion."

"And who's going to clean all that?" Bella chuckled, gently stroking her side with her thumb.

"The servants."

"No way, princess." Bella hadn't grown up with any servants. They were only hired to help at any galas or benefits Charles hosted.

"They'd all be white, of course." This made Bella laugh.

"How considerate of you," she pulled her head back and kissed between her breasts. "But I'll do the cleaning, and when our kids are old enough, they'll help." She smiled up at her teasingly. "We won't let our princess lift a finger."

Rosalie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't fight back her smile. "Don't be ridiculous...I'll...I'll help."

"Sure." Bella kissed her collarbone. "If you really want to help, you'll stay the hell away from the kitchen."

Rosalie looked down at her with a confused frown. "What? But you love my cooking."

She felt the girl beneath her tense. "O-Oh! You're right! I just, um, I was...uh confusing your cooking with someone else's-"

"Have you been lying to me this whole time!"

Bella sighed and hugged her a little tighter. "You always put in so much effort and...ugh. It's so cute and you always look so happy and excited when I eat your food. How was I supposed to tell you that...it needs a little work?"

She couldn't believe this.

"You're such an ass!"

"I'm the ass? I never made you eat what you cooked-" she giggled when Rosalie shoved against her shoulders, making her back hit the mattress.

"I can't believe this! What about Aya and Charles and..." Rosalie's eyes widened in realization. "Have all of you been lying?!"

Bella lifted her hands to her face. "Don't blame them, princess. I was the one who told them to fake it."

Heat rushed to her cheeks. "I detest you!" But she didn't move away when warm hands cradled her face.

"You can detest me all you want, but please, think of our poor children before you even think about cooking." Bella began cackling, keeping it as quiet as she could as Rosalie glowered at her.

And yet, she couldn't help but think that this was how she wanted to spend every night for the rest of her life.

Laying in bed with Bella, kissing her, loving her, arguing with her about pointless things, and listening to every version of her laugh. Whether it be her girlish giggle or the mocking cackle that she had grown to love.

And then they would fall asleep in each other's arms, and wake up to lazy mornings spent in bed before their kids barged in and demanded them to make breakfast.

Whatever mischief their children would get into, Rosalie was certain Bella would be aiding them. They would all drive her crazy. But after a few threats, Bella would help her reign them in and they'd all be on their best behavior. For a time.

Their aunts and uncles would visit often, as would their grandparents. Charles and Aya would make wonderful grandparents, and Rosalie was certain they would spoil their children rotten. Their aunts and uncles would be no better, especially Mary Alice.

'That life, that's a life I want more than anything.'

"Hey, where'd you go?" Bella murmured, garnering Rosalie's attention.

"Just...thinking about a future with you." She confessed somewhat sheepishly. "Nothing would make me happier." She leaned down, pressing a sweet kiss to Bella's lips. "I love you, so much, and I'm so sorry I made you feel otherwise."

'A life with you is all I want. You're all I ever wanted.'

Rosalie kissed her again. "You belong to me, and I belong to you." She whispered. "I don't let Royce kiss me. Whenever I'm with him, all I can think about is how the sun can't go down fast enough so I can come home to you."

Bella hummed, smiling slightly as she gazed up at her. "One of these days we're going to run away together. Once you get that stick out of your incredibly nice ass, we'll leave, and we'll start our future." She murmured, "Then marriage, so stupid...but if that's what you want, I'll marry you."

She looked down at her in disbelief. Her friend had always hated the idea of marriage, insisting everyone always left, and there was no way a marriage could last.

When she had pointed out Aya and Charles' marriage Bella had scoffed at her, telling her it was different but she was unable to explain why.

Bella's mother had left her.

She had had a complicated relationship with her father when she was dropped on his doorstep a few years ago. And the way her mother had treated her...Rosalie understood why Bella was such a pessimist.

With gentle fingers, she found the burn on Bella's bare shoulder.

Blue eyes filled with tears as she leaned down and pressed a kiss to the scar.

"You'd really marry me?"

She didn't have to see her face to know that she was rolling her eyes. "That's what I just said, dummy." But her voice was soft, just above a whisper. "It'll be in secret, just like my father's wedding with Aya. But, you know, we'll still be married and we can get you a pretty dress and-" Rosalie kissed her fiercely, heart thundering in her chest as Bella's fingers found the bracelet she had given her.

Rosalie wore it whenever they were together, a reminder that she was already part of Bella's family.

When she pulled away Bella was smiling, holding the lion pendant between her fingers.

"So, what do you think? Rosalie Swan? Or Bella Hale?"

"Rosalie Hale." Her father's voice made her tear her gaze away from her bracelet, and she placed her hands in her lap, hiding them beneath the table. "Please eat your breakfast." He looked her over worriedly. "You haven't been acting yourself. I called the doctor–"

She clenched her jaw. "Why?"

He sighed, smoothing back his hair before putting his hat on. "You've been very irritable lately. I worry you're suffering from hysteria. But it's treatable, your mother had the same thing once and now she's good as new." Robert adjusted his suit jacket. "Not to worry, many women experience your affliction."

My happiness is gone. The love of my life is gone. Why should I have to pretend that I'm okay?

Gone were the days of unearned politeness.

She was Rosalie Hale, and if she was annoyed or upset, she would speak her mind.

And people would do well to listen.

"I'm angry, so that makes me sick?"

He waved her off. "I'm no doctor, I don't know how it works." He picked up his briefcase. "I love you. Call the bank when you get your diagnosis. I want to make sure you're alright." Robert leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Just as he was about to leave, Andrea came into the room. She was carrying a cup of tea, and Rosalie mustered a small smile at the sight of her.

"Here you go, Rose." She murmured, giving Rosalie an empathetic look as she set the tea in front of her. "Is there anything else you need?"

The shame of how she spoke of Andrea had remained, and she was glad it did. She never wanted to speak so cruelly about Andrea again. The woman had loved and taken care of her for as long as she could remember, and she deserved better from Rosalie.

I'm so sorry. I'll never say another bad word about you. I didn't mean it, I swear.

The shame would remain, but she would bear it with grace.

"That's all for me, thank you, Andrea." Rosalie gave her a wide smile, taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze.

The woman smiled back at her, eyes filled with warmth as comforting, callused hands squeezed hers in return. "Anytime, baby." She pulled away, about to leave the room when Rosalie's father shifted.

Robert stood up straight, staring at Andrea in a way that made Rosalie uncomfortable. "Andrea, good morning." He smiled, reaching out and touching her shoulder. "Lillian is going to the market today, if there's anything you'd like, let her know. Tell her I insisted."

Andrea smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Mr. Hale. That's very kind of you."

It was her lack of reaction that made Rosalie surprised. But, upon further examination, she saw the dread creep into her brown eyes as she spoke with Robert.

Bastard.

"Oh, think nothing of it. You've served us so well for many years, it's the least I could do." He gave her a gentle squeeze, lingering for a moment before pulling away. "I reward hard workers-"

"Goodbye, father." Rosalie all but hissed, glaring at her tea as he jerked back in slight surprise.

She had seen Robert stare at Andrea many times.

When she was younger, she hadn't thought anything of it, too naive to understand the intent in his eyes. But as she grew older, she understood exactly what his looks and touches were trying to convey.

Never had he been so bold to act in this way in front of Rosalie before. Perhaps he thought she wouldn't notice.

But she had, and it made her sick.

"Remember to call after your diagnosis." He glanced at Andrea before he took his leave, and only when he was walking away did Rosalie allow herself to relax.

She looked up at her housekeeper, whose demeanor changed the second Robert left the room.

Andrea swallowed thickly, lowering her head slightly as she hugged her arm to her chest. Rosalie could see the discomfort in her body, making her tense as she stared after her father.

Rosalie stood to her feet, gently resting her hand on Andrea's arm. The woman flinched away in surprise, staring at Rosalie with wide eyes that were now filled with tears.

"O-Oh. I'm sorry, baby. You surprised me." She stammered, and Rosalie felt her eyes begin to burn.

She wasn't scared to show vulnerability when it came to Andrea or her mother. They had raised her. They had seen many of her tears over the years, and Andrea had never judged her for them.

It was as her mother said, she was to save her tears for them, and no one else.

"I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry." She croaked out. "Does my father ever..."

Andrea shook her head. "No." She smiled, tension leaking from her body as she took Rosalie's hands in hers. "Lilly would kill him. She's always protected me."

The relief of her answer made Rosalie sigh and she nodded, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. "Good...I'll protect you too. I promise."

Andrea smiled, looking at Rosalie as though she had given her the world. "Oh, you're so much like your mother."

How long had she been waiting to hear that?

As a child she had looked up to her mother, she had wanted to be her.

I wanted to be her, not knowing she was hiding her true self behind a sham marriage and a large house.

Rosalie Hale was getting everything she had wanted when she was a child.

A pretty ring, a large wedding, a handsome husband, and soon after they would have children.

I am becoming the exact same woman as my mother.

The bracelet on her wrist was turned around, both the wolf and the lion were hidden from sight, and Rosalie forced a smile.

"Yes. I suppose I am."

Success tasted like ashes in her mouth.

...

Rosalie wondered if Esme told her husband and son about her rudeness.

"Good afternoon, Rosalie. It's nice to finally meet you." Carlisle greeted, his voice would have been soothing if she wasn't aggravated by the mere sight of him.

I don't need a doctor. Being angry isn't an illness.

He wore a long white coat and a black tie. His beauty would have been intimidating if Rosalie could find the energy to express anything but disdain for the man.

She was annoyed by his beauty.

His sharp facial features and angular jaw and brilliant white teeth had made him the talk of the town when he moved to Rochester a few weeks ago. He was lean with broad shoulders and well-muscled forearms.

And were it not for that ring on his finger Rosalie thinks he would have been the most eligible bachelor in Rochester. Not that it stopped many women from shamelessly throwing themselves at him, according to the rumors.

His bright gold eyes did little to help his dilemma, giving women an excuse to get in his face and comment about them.

Just as Gertrude Fitzgerald did, embarrassing herself in front of everyone at the diner. Mother said it was the most humorous thing she has seen in a while–

"I hope you don't mind, I brought my son, Edward, with me."

Rosalie hadn't noticed the other man until his father mentioned him.

Edward shared the beauty of his father, with tousled reddish-brown hair and the same sharp facial features. He was the same height as his father, wearing a grey coat over his white button-up shirt. He was a little thinner than Carlisle, having a similar build, lean and lithe, with muscle hidden beneath his clothes.

His gold eyes looked at her and Rosalie glared at him.

Edward looked as though he would rather be anywhere else, and truthfully, she would prefer that as well.

It was the way he carried himself that annoyed her.

Tall, proud, and disinterested.

He had an arrogance to him that rubbed her the wrong way, and when he cast a glare in her direction she couldn't help but narrow her eyes.

"Is he a doctor?"

"No, but he's training to become one-"

Rosalie sneered at Edward before looking at Carlisle. "By following you around and watching you tell women they have hysteria? Riveting, truly. I'm sure he's learning so much." She noticed the corner of Edward's lip twitch upward and she scoffed. "I'm glad you think that's funny, junior. But my father called for a doctor and I wasn't informed this was a family business." She leaned back in her seat. "Honestly, doctor, perhaps next time you would like to bring Esme along as well? Since you clearly care so little about the privacy of your patients."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Are you always this rude?"

"I'm not rude, I'm hysterical, now get the hell out."

He glared at her. "Perhaps you're delusional as well as insufferable–"

"I'm sorry," Rosalie looked at his father. "Is he still speaking to me? Or am I hearing things?" She touched the side of her head. "It's difficult to tell." She leaned back in her seat, feigning fatigue. "If he is still there, doctor, do let him know that I don't value the opinions of boys playing make-believe."

I've seen your mother's taste in decor. The only delusional one is her.

Edward curled his hands into fists before exiting the room, and Carlisle looked at her in surprise. "I apologize for making you uncomfortable. I should have asked before bringing him. And I'm so sorry for Edward's behavior."

"Your son follows you around but learns nothing." Rosalie hummed, feeling vindicated now that she had gotten him to leave. "He misdiagnosed me."

She could swear she heard Bella's high-pitched laugh. She would have loved to witness Rosalie's less than ladylike behavior.

To her surprise, this earned a quiet chuckle from the doctor. "It appears he did." He removed his stethoscope from around his neck and put it on his ears. "Deep breaths for me." Rosalie did as she was told, staring straight ahead and breathing deeply as he moved the stethoscope around. "Hm, just as I thought," Carlisle murmured, putting his stethoscope back around his neck.

She looked at him drolly. "Will I live, doctor? Or would you like to get another opinion from your poorly educated son?"

He rested his chin on his hand. "I think you'll live for many, many years. Healthy heart, healthy lungs..." he smiled. "Not so healthy attitude, but I don't think you're suffering from any hysteria." He stood to his feet. "You're quite simply, angry."

"Where would we be without modern medicine." She muttered dryly. "Thank you for telling me what I already know. Have a nice day."

Before he left he said, "Oh! My wife wanted me to tell you that she would love to have you over again."

That house is a graveyard.

Her eyes drifted to the window, watching as cars slowly drove down the snow-covered street.

If I go back...I'll become undone.

"I would sooner gouge my own eyes out than step foot in that house again." She said, not bothering to look at Carlisle. "Goodbye, doctor. The next time my father overreacts, do be sure you leave your son at home. He's very unpleasant."

Carlisle hesitated, but she still refused to look at him.

"...goodbye, Rosalie."

They left, and it took all of Rosalie's strength not to look at the photo of her sixteenth birthday party that was stashed in her dresser.

Because there was no use in torturing herself by being constantly reminded of a happiness she would never feel again.

...

Royce liked drinking, and Rosalie liked ignoring him.

The two were sitting with Vera and her husband, Timothy, at an upscale cafe Rosalie had wanted to bring them to.

"Royce will be paying. Feel free to order whatever you'd like." She had assured them.

Timothy McCarty was a gandy dancer, working alongside other burly men to maintain and repair the railways.

His face was weathered from long days spent in the sun. He was a tall, muscular man with light brown eyes, thick short black hair, and prominent dimples that sometimes gave him a childlike appearance when he smiled.

And he smiled a lot, almost as much as his wife.

But where Vera's smile was wide and bright and infectious, Timothy's was more minuscule and mischievous, as though he knew things that no one else did.

He didn't make much money, and Vera worked as a maid to help ends meet, but Rosalie had been to their tiny apartment on multiple occasions. Whether it be to help decorate or to have a cup of tea or to escape her family and Royce.

They didn't have the large mansion that she did, but, much like Aya's small house in the swamp, their cramped apartment was warm. It felt like a home, one she loved being in.

Rosalie took a sip of her coffee, sparing a glance at Vera's stomach. "Have you thought of any names?"

Vera was pregnant, belly swollen and cheeks flushed as she ordered a large quantity of food. The baby was due in a few months, and Rosalie had never seen her friend happier.

For the first time in a long time, Rosalie was envious.

Not of the baby Vera was about to have or her husband.

She was envious of Vera's happiness.

Any time Timothy would be affectionate with her, Rosalie would have to look away, fighting back memories of Bella and ignoring her obnoxious fiance.

She had to sit there, trying not to disappear in the fantasy world she had created with her lover, and smile as Vera leaned against Timothy, who was resting his hand against her stomach.

"I think it's a girl." Her friend said, toying with her dark brown curls as she looked down at her unborn child. "I want to name her Eleanor. And if it's a boy, which I highly doubt, I really like the name, Emmett."

Timothy gave Rosalie his small smile. "And when it's a boy, I'll name him Emmanuel."

Vera's large, bright smile made an appearance as she looked at her husband. "And when you're wrong I won't throw it in your face."

This earned her a laugh. "And when you're wrong I will definitely throw it in your face. You're the one that made the bet. Too competitive for your own good." He gave her swollen belly a loud kiss and the secretive smile played on his lips. "I can't wait to meet my little Emmanuel."

His wife snorted at that. "You mean, you can't wait to meet your little Eleanor." She looked at Rosalie. "Tim is just so ungrateful. At least I was gracious enough to let him name our next child after he lost the bet."

"You call that gracious? You were mocking me!"

"And I'll gladly do it again when you lose." She shot back, unable to suppress her laugh. "I'm done being gracious to a sore loser."

"You mean, a sore winner."

Rosalie was excited about her friend's baby, she was glad that Vera was happy.

I just wish I could be as happy as she was.

Royce leaned back in the booth, bringing his flask up to his lips and taking a sip. "What do you think, Rose?"

That Bella and I should be sitting with Timothy and Vera.

"About what?"

"Kids? I was thinking...ten." He grinned playfully at her, smoothing back his dark hair and putting his flask away. "Maybe twenty?"

Vera knew she detested Royce, but her friend wasn't a gossip. She was someone she could trust.

So when Rosalie didn't glance at Vera with a look of dread, her friend laughed. "That sounds terrible."

Having any children with Royce sounds terrible.

Timothy smiled at his wife, affectionately rubbing her bulging stomach. "Well, let's not be too hasty. I think twenty children is–" he laughed when she playfully swatted his hand. "Too many!" He corrected, earning him a warm smile and a kiss on the cheek.

Rosalie looked down at her food when she felt her finance give her a nudge. "Rose?"

"How about zero?" She muttered.

There was a time when she had wanted children of her own. Children that came from her womb and inherited her beauty.

But now she couldn't care less.

If I can't have children with Bella, what's the point.

Her mother had warned her that having a child would make this life more bearable. But she didn't want Royce to touch her, ever.

"Zero?" He snorted, sounding somewhat angry as he looked at her. "You're teasing."

"I'm not."

"...I know what this is about." He glared at her. "Ever since the Swans left you've been different." The drink gave him courage. "It was one of those Indians, wasn't it?"

Rosalie felt rage burn in her chest, but she didn't lash out.

No.

She wouldn't cause a scene. Not when they were in public. Not when everyone in town would begin speculating if Royce's accusations were true.

Winter is cold. Ice is piercing.

And Rosalie would be the same.

Timothy shifted uncomfortably. "Um, we should really be going."

Vera looked at her, trying to see if Rosalie needed her to stay. But Rosalie refused to look at her, instead, she picked up her silverware and cut off a piece of her waffle.

It had gone cold.

But she didn't care.

The couple left, and then, only then, did Rosalie address Royce. "I wasn't with any of the Swan men." She didn't look at him, choosing to continue cutting into her waffle. "Do you have any more baseless accusations you'd like to get off your chest?"

Royce clenched his jaw at that. "What am I supposed to think? You won't even kiss me. And when they left you got sad and–"

She swallowed another piece of her waffle. "My close friends moved away. I fail to see how that means I was with any of those men romantically."

They were my family. They were my brothers.

Her fiance's voice grew louder. "You would do well–"

"No. You would do well to lower your voice." She set her silverware down and looked up at him. "Unless you want everyone in Rochester talking about how, Royce King, one of the most eligible bachelors, suspects his fiance was cheating on him with a brown man." He glared at her. "Such accusations could lead me to break off our engagement, further humiliating you." She smiled blithely, taking a sip of her coffee. "I think you would do well to tread very, very carefully with me, Royce."

Dark eyes darted around the cafe, and he slunk into his seat and lowered his voice. "Are you threatening me?"

"Do you feel threatened?" She laughed quietly, turning her attention back towards her waffle. "By a woman no less. My, my, you're full of surprises."

This marriage is one out of obligation. If you believe otherwise, you must be drunk, just as you always are.

Before he could retort, a man slid into the booth across from them.

"I apologize for interrupting, but I really must speak with Rosalie, in private."

She suppressed her surprise at the sight of Edward Cullen.

Gold eyes were darker than when she had seen him a few weeks ago. And the distrustful look he gave Royce was one that confused her.

Her fiance bristled at the sight of him. "And just what do you want to speak to my betrothed about?"

Edward smiled, dazzling the two of them for a moment before holding up his left hand. "I'm engaged as well, I promise my intentions are pure." He leaned forward. "I just wanted to speak with her about my mother. She runs a small boutique not far from here, she's the one arranging the flowers for your wedding."

It was a good lie.

One that would have impressed Rosalie, if she thought Edward deserved anything from her but contempt.

"And why can't your mother be here–"

"Well, it's difficult for her to be at two places at once. So she sent me." Edward shrugged. "However, you're more than welcome to stay and talk about your wedding preparations if you'd like."

Royce glanced at Rosalie, the alcohol was beginning to take its toll, and he seemed to struggle to sit still. "I'll just...d'you want me to stay?" Their argument, for now, was forgotten.

"You don't have to. I know you're a busy man."

Her fiance looked relieved. "You're the best, doll." He kissed her cheek, and she suppressed her grimace. Royce got up, bidding them a cheery farewell before he left the cafe on wobbly legs.

Rosalie watched him go before turning to Edward. "What do you want? Or are you here to incorrectly diagnose me with some other illness?"

"I overheard some of your conversation in passing...I thought you wanted him gone." Edward frowned at her. "You could at least be grateful–"

"I don't recall asking for you to rescue me." She said sharply. "Why are you here?"

The man looked somewhat sheepish, brow furrowing as he looked away from her. "Well, I was here to pick up some food for my mother when I saw you." He cleared his throat and looked her in the eye. "I wanted to apologize for being rude to you the last time we spoke. There was no excuse for my behavior. You were uncomfortable and I should have respected that and left."

Rosalie raised a bemused brow. "Did Esme make you come to apologize?"

This earned her a quiet laugh. "And my father."

At least you're honest.

"And, for the sake of honesty, I should tell you that I am truly sorry for what I said."

Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay."

"That's it?"

"I don't have to accept your apology." She scoffed before eyeing his ring. "What unfortunate woman is engaged to you?"

Edward looked annoyed but didn't comment on her quip. "No one. I only wear it to deter the women here."

Ridiculous.

"What if you meet a woman you find worth marrying? She'll think you're already engaged."

This earned her a sigh, and he ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. "I haven't found a woman in this city I'm interested in marrying."

Rosalie eyed him for a moment. "What's wrong with them? Too hysterical for your tastes? Or perhaps they're delusional?" He rolled his eyes. "If you ask me, I find many of them to be extremely rude." She said dryly, making Edward's lips quirk upward in slight amusement.

"I'm inclined to agree with you."

You're much prettier when you're not aggravating me.

Rosalie would have left already if that hadn't meant going home.

There was a certain charm that Edward had, though Rosalie couldn't quite place exactly what it was.

As were his parents, Edward was beautiful in a way that made her envious. Physically speaking, there wasn't a single flaw to be found on any of the Cullens.

It was a beauty Rosalie wanted for herself.

When she was a child her mother had taught her the importance of beauty.

"You're incredibly smart, smart enough to know that beauty is a weapon if you know how to use it."

Beauty had always been important to her.

She had wanted to be the most beautiful woman in the world, just like her mother, so that she could have many potential husbands to choose from.

But then she met Bella, and it was no longer men she wanted the attention of.

Seeing the Cullens in their radiance, knowing that there were women that had Esme's flawless complexion...knowing that they could garner Bella's attention and her attraction–

"So, what is Edward Cullen looking for in a woman?"

He raised a brow. "You care?"

"Not in the slightest. But it's either listen to you ramble or go home and listen to my father ramble."

Bothersome old bastard.

Edward seemed surprised by her honesty, though, she wasn't sure why he was. She had only ever been honest since the moment she met him.

"Your father irritates you?"

Rosalie narrowed her eyes. "Did I explicitly say that?" He shook his head. "Then don't put words in my mouth, and answer my question."

He scoffed but didn't argue, instead he looked out the cafe window. "When I think of finding a wife for myself...I think of finding a woman who is kind and smart and caring." She noticed the way his eyes dimmed. "One who can see me for who I truly am, and love me in spite of it."

She could hear the pain in his voice, the sadness.

Did you already have someone like that?

He looked at her.

Did you lose her? Just as I lost–

"Well, you don't have forever. The best you can do is find the closest woman to what you want, and marry her."

"Please, Rose. Royce is an asshole."

"You think I should just settle?"

"He isn't worth a second of your time."

Rosalie couldn't help but look away from Edward. "What other choice do you have? No woman here is who you want, but time is ticking. Better to settle with someone who can meet at least some of your needs."

"You don't love him!"

Edward was quiet for a moment. "Is that what you did?" His voice was gentle, empathetic in a way she had never heard from him.

"Rose. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me."

Rosalie stared at him coldly. "My choices are of no concern to you."

"Have a great life...I hope this makes you happy."

His gold eyes searched her blue ones. "They're not." He conceded before standing to his feet. "But...did you really have a choice?" Her hands curled into fists. "And if you did, are you happy with it?"

Edward left before she could conjure up some biting response.

It perturbed her that he was able to read her so well. It made her wonder if her face was too open, too honest.

You could never hide how you felt from Bella. Thinking about her lets your guard down. Makes you weak.

Rosalie sat there, staring out at the snow-covered sidewalks.

She drank the rest of her coffee, closing her eyes as it slid down her throat, cold as ice.

---

Shaman Dyami had just moved back to the reservation, and their father was eager to introduce them.

Ephraim walked alongside Charles and Aya. Chilali was on his left and Lucy walked next to her, hands intertwined and arms swinging casually.

Gene had talked Levi into giving him a piggyback ride, and he was resting his head on his shoulder as they talked quietly amongst themselves.

Mary Alice was all but glued to Bella's side, staying closer to the werecat, as she always did. She never made much of a conscious effort to interact with any of the shifters.

She was still a newborn. She was still skittish around the shifters, and they understood her fear, to an extent.

Bella was a bit overprotective when it came to the vampire. If Mary Alice looked marginally uncomfortable around the shifters Bella would cut in, growling at them and taking Mary Alice elsewhere.

Aya had assured them it was just a phase. But it had been weeks, and they were still inseparable.

Bob walked alongside Bella, head held high, but her eyes kept glancing at Bella's tail. It was as though she was resisting the urge to play with it.

"Shaman Dyami knew your birth parents," Charles explained, striding forward confidently in his brown suit and brown dress shoes. "He helped raise me." He linked his arm with Aya's, smiling so widely his cheeks were red. "I used to watch him change the weather and guide spirits to the Beyond. And he can heal most illnesses and injuries and–"

Ephraim frowned. "If he's so powerful, where was he when the cold ones came?"

This made his father falter, and Chilali shot him a glare. "Really, Eph?"

"Shamen don't fight vampires. They're healers first and foremost." Aya supplied, giving her husband's arm a gentle rub. "Neither do Vodou Queens. Not unless we ain't got no other choice. Even then, there ain't no winning a fight of physical strength against them."

Charles cleared his throat, looking distressed for a moment before he turned to Ephraim. "He knew the cold ones were coming with the intention to destroy the shifter bloodline. They had done the same with the werewolves and werebears, or, they had tried to." A knowing look gleamed in his eye. "An attempt was made to wipe out werecats, but our kind blends in the best with humans. We don't have a distinct scent, and we live in many different environments depending on our cat."

Bella smiled cockily at them. "Yeah, and unlike the other were-animals, we evolve."

Chilali raised an unimpressed brow. "A shame evolution seems to have missed you."

This earned her a few laughs and a scowl from Mary Alice. "You ain't gotta be rude."

This again.

The werecat calmed her with a single touch, drawing the vampire's attention.

Mary Alice sighed, slender fingers toying with Bella's new bracelet, the gift she had received from the newborn's birth mother.

Ephraim didn't like it.

None of them did.

It was a black band that wove together, and held a red cane pendant.

One of the symbols of Papa Legba, the trickster.

The bracelet was to help Bella blend in more, using magic to obscure her wounded ear and other scars she wanted to hide.

If she wanted it to, it could even hide her tattoos, but only when she was wearing the bracelet.

The last thing Bella needs is to hide more of herself.

Charles broke the silence. "I wanted to stay and help fight, but these cold ones had special gifts. Terrible ones. And your parents insisted that Shaman Dyami and I take you all and run." The werecat sighed, "I don't know how well you all remember it, but we left a few days before the cold ones came. Shaman Dyami had to come back and make it rain for two days straight to erase your scents."

Gene's brow furrowed. "I don't remember it that well. Just that we left and I was sad." His eyes brightened. "I kind of remember meeting Aya and Will and Mary Alice. I remember liking the swamp. Her house felt like home."

Ephraim knew his younger brother missed the swamp.

It was where he had found peace. And while he would miss the summer days and the summer nights they would spend there, Ephraim was relieved to be back in Washington.

Aya smiled at Gene. "Your daddy recognized the Vodou symbols on the house and nearly broke my damn door down. Came in beggin' for help. He didn't know how to raise five little shifter babies, and Lord, Mary Alice was only two then..." she shook her head and a quiet laugh escaped her. "Will was so soft. Askin' what we could do to help. Volunteerin' me to make the magic happen." She gave Gene's cheek a light pinch. "Ya'll were lucky you were cute!"

Ephraim wondered if the mate bond had anything to do with Aya's decision. She had talked about feeling so guilty for the pull she felt towards Charles.

Mating worked differently than imprinting. Where imprinting was one-sided, mating was not.

Aya had loved Will, she had even considered giving up her title as a Vodou Queen so they could grow old together.

"Then in comes your daddy, all frantic and foul smellin' like he'd never bathed a day in his life." Aya had laughed. "I thought I was sick in the head for wanting to be with him, a white man no less. Could you imagine?"

Mary Alice glanced at Aya curiously. "Who's Will?"

Silence fell over the shifters.

But the Vodou Queen smiled at her. "He was your uncle."

"Was?"

Before any more could be said, a loud yell drew their attention.

"Charles!"

The loud cry of an eagle sounded overhead, and the massive bird circled the area in a way that made Ephraim somewhat unsettled. He didn't know why it stayed over them, perhaps it was a silly thing to be cautious about, but it was still odd that it never flew away.

Their father perked up, laughing as he released Aya's arm and raced to the Shaman. "Shaman Dyami!" They embraced each other tightly, smiling and patting each others' backs as they spoke rapidly to one another.

The man didn't come alone.

Two teenagers flanked him, looking so familiar that Ephraim couldn't help but stare.

One was a boy with short, curly black hair. His skin was dark brown, and he stood a little shorter than Ephraim. He looked to be around his age, decently muscled but somewhat lanky in comparison to himself, Gene, and Levi. His face was narrow, his eyes light brown, and he was staring at Ephraim with the same confused look.

The other was a girl with cropped black hair. She looked very similar to the boy with her dark brown skin and light brown eyes. She was a head shorter than the boy was, looking to be around the height of Chilali. She had more muscle than the boy did, with thick arms and broad shoulders.

Her eyes were fixated on Mary Alice, filled with contempt and disbelief as she glared at her.

Ephraim squared his shoulders, eyes narrowing at her.

I'll be damned if she touches Mary Alice.

Because, despite the vampire's memory loss and skittish behavior, she was still very much Mary Alice. Her mannerisms were the same, her bubbly personality never wavered, and they all still loved her. She was family. She was their sister.

Bella noticed the girl's glare, tail bristling as she put her newborn back on the ground. "Wait here." She warned, giving the vampire a look when she opened her mouth to argue. "It'll be fine. Just wait."

Aya stood at Mary Alice's side, slipping her hand into hers and glaring back at the girl until she looked away.

Ephraim noticed his siblings also eyeing the girl, sizing her up preparing to defend Mary Alice.

Bella's tail was lashing back and forth, but the werecat looked at her siblings with wide eyes, as though she were surprised by their protectiveness.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "She's our sister too. We'll always protect her."

His baby sister grimaced, hanging her head in shame. "I...I know. Sorry I've been so–"

"Later." He assured her, giving her a gentle smile.

Bella had been extremely aggressive over the past few months, but Mary Alice's arrival had softened her. Even when she was overprotective, it was always from a place of concern, it was always from a place of love for her best friend.

And no matter how annoying it was, Ephraim understood.

I lashed out at Rosalie the same way. I didn't mean to be so aggressive, I only wanted to keep my family safe.

Despite the problems Rosalie and his sister had, he would always regret making the girl cry. But he would never regret protecting his family.

And from the look in Bella's eyes, he could tell she felt the same way in regards to Mary Alice.

She nodded and patted his hand. "Later." She agreed before pulling away and looking at newcomers once again.

The Shaman was a big man, burly with strong shoulders, muscular arms, and a slightly protruding stomach. His skin was light brown, and his black hair was long, going past his shoulders. The Shaman's dark brown eyes were filled with wisdom and love as he looked Charles over and ruffled his hair.

He looked to be a little older than their father, perhaps in his forties, and his voice was deep and had a slight rasp to it.

"You look a little older since I've last seen you. Does that mean..." he trailed off, wagging his eyebrows and making their father blush.

"Yes. Her name is Bella. Bella Aki Swan." He gestured for all of his children to move closer, and they listened, but not before casting wary glances at the two teenagers.

Shaman Dyami's smile softened, and he clasped his shoulder. "He would have liked that." He then turned to Bella. "I never thought I'd see the day!" He boomed, looking her over. "She looks nothing like you, she's beautiful!" He reached out, crushing Bella into a hug and making the werecat bristle.

"Hey–"

"We're family, cub!" The Shaman laughed. "And I'm a hugger!" He noticed Bella's tail lashing behind her and his eyes widened. "A tigress?" He set her down and glanced at Charles in confusion. "I thought she would have taken after you." He hummed thoughtfully before smiling. "Your grandmother, Helen, is a snow leopard. She dropped your father off here when he was about five, and that's why his cat is a lion. He grew up around so many of us, we became his pride just as he became part of our pack." His brow furrowed in confusion. "It's strange you didn't become the same. You grew up with five other children–"

Bella crossed her arms over her chest and glared up at him. "Not until I was ten, okay?" She snapped, tail lashing furiously behind her.

Ephraim wanted to reach out to her. He wanted to reassure his sister in any way that he could. But he knew now wasn't the time. Not in front of strangers. Their display earlier had been pushing it, but even then they had spoken too quietly for the newcomers to hear.

The guilt in their father's eyes didn't go unnoticed by Shaman Dyami. "Ah, a story for another time." He murmured. "A tiger is still a great cat to have. The strongest and largest of the wild cats! You could beat your old man in any test of strength!" He patted her shoulder, flashing her another smile before turning to the shifters. "And look at all of you! Charles, you've outdone yourself. I thought five would be too many. Hell, I could barely raise two! But you had six children to raise–"

"I had a lot of help from my mate, Aya," Charles interjected. "She's a Vodou Queen, without her I wouldn't have been able to do anything."

"I have to meet her! She sounds wonderful!" Shaman Dyami enthused. "But first, let me take a look at your children." He stared at Ephraim before throwing his arms around him. "You look just like your father." Ephraim awkwardly hugged the Shaman back. "You'll make a great Alpha, just as Joseph did, I'm sure of it!" He enthused, pulling away and observing the others. He did more of the same, hugging each shifter and commenting on how much they looked like their parents. "You all don't remember me, but I remember all of you. You've all grown so beautifully!"

He was genuine. A bit eccentric, but Ephraim found that he liked the man. He had a familiarity to him that was comforting.

The Shaman then held his arm out, and the eagle that had been circling them let out a screech before flying to his arm. "This is my eagle, Senu. Through her, I can see and hear all." He boasted, petting his eagle's neck gently with his knuckles.

The eagle was staring straight at Mary Alice, and Ephraim felt his muscles tense up.

She knows.

He suspected that Shaman Dyami would know too if he paid Mary Alice and Aya more attention.

Charles, meanwhile, had approached the two teenagers. "Quill II and Amelia Ateara...you two were so small the last time I saw you." His greeting was much more reserved. He was clearly happy to see them, but he held his hand out to them and introduced himself quietly. "It's nice to see you both again. Quil I and Ohle were the ones that taught me how to fish. They taught me a lot of things."

Quil greeted him warmly, but Amelia stared at his hand in disdain.

"If you were truly a friend to our parents, you wouldn't have a bloodsucker with you."

Charles looked at her in surprise and Chilali grabbed Bella's shoulder before the werecat could lunge forward.

Shaman Dyami's eyes widened. "You have..." it was then that he noticed Mary Alice and Aya. "What were you thinking, boy? Bringing that thing here!"

Charles growled, making the Shaman take a step back. "Don't you ever talk about her like that!" He shot a glare at Amelia. "Mary Alice is my mate's niece. She was attacked by a vampire and–"

"Joseph, Thomas, and the first Quil would never permit this!"

"Now you listen here, Shaman." Aya snapped, stalking forward. "My baby ain't attracted to human blood. I put a spell on her to ensure that. She ain't ever had human blood, and she won't ever want human blood. You hear me?" She poked his chest. "I know what happened here, and I'm sorry that it did, but my Mary Alice did nothing wrong."

Shaman Dyami narrowed his eyes at her. "Your leech–"

"You must of not heard me." The Vodou Queen's voice changed, sounding ancient and powerful in a way that sent chills up Ephraim's spine. "So I'll make you hear me. You touch a hair on my girl's head and you ain't even gotta worry about my babies tearin' you up. I'll get to you first. And when I do, you'll be wishin' it was a shifter or a werecat that tore your throat out by the time I'm through."

Quil stepped forward, trembling slightly as he glared at Aya. Though, Ephraim could practically smell the fear that radiated off the newcomer. "If you think we'll let you hurt him–"

"Ain't nobody scared of you, pup." Aya's voice reverted back to normal as she addressed the wide-eyed Shaman. "My girl is a protector of humanity, just as the shifters are. She'll keep this land safe." She then laughed, loud and mocking. "Tell you what. If she ever attacks a human, we'll leave. And come a hundred years from now, when you see her fightin' off the threats to humanity, you'll still be here lookin' like a fool."

Shaman Dyami clenched his jaw. "I have every right to be concerned about a Cold One being here."

"You do. But you have no right to insult her." It was silent for a moment before Aya stretched out her hand, smiling coldly at the man as she did so. "Where are my manners? I'm Aya Brandon, Charles's wife, and mate." When he didn't move to shake her hand she reached out and grabbed his. "Don't be actin' up now. I'm generous enough to start over. It ain't wise to cross a Vodou Queen."

Hesitantly, Shaman Dyami shook her hand and cast a wary glance at Charles. "I don't like that you have a vampire here, I'll be watching her closely." He then cracked a smile. "But your mate...she's fun! A little scary, but I like that in my women." He winked at her and Aya huffed out a laugh, though she didn't seem all that amused.

"I'm looking forward to a long friendship with you, Shaman Dyami." She released his hand and turned back to Mary Alice. "Come on now, girl. Let's get on back to the house." The vampire cast a wary glance at the Shaman and the new shifters before she nodded, standing next to Aya in the blink of an eye and tentatively taking her hand in hers.

They began walking back to their home, and Bella turned to follow suit.

"Dad, you can't be serious," Amelia argued, making the younger werecat stop moving. "Their kind killed our parents. Your friends! We're designed to hunt them down and kill them. Why are we okay with this!"

Thankfully, Aya and Mary Alice continued walking, but Bella remained frozen to the spot.

Shaman Dyami frowned at her. "We're not. But this vampire is no threat to humans, and it's clear the rest of your pack is familiar with her." He jutted a thumb at Ephraim. "Your Alpha accepts her. Vodou Queens are no friends of vampires, and yet Aya vouches for her, so does Charles."

Quil growled at that. "Werecats don't have any loyalty to humans, just to themselves."

"Enough!" Ephraim snapped, staring the other boy down. "Our father grew up with our families. He protected us. He's proven time and again that he's loyal to our tribe. Mary Alice is our sister–"

"Mary Alice is a leech."

"That's enough, son." The Shaman warned.

"No, it's not!"

In the blink of an eye Bella had Quil by the throat, white claws extended and canines elongated as she lifted him into the air. He choked against her strong grip, looking down at Bella with wide eyes as he struggled against her hold.

Blood trickled down his neck where Bella's claws pierced his skin. "If she's a leech then you're a dead man, you sorry son of a bitch!"

Amelia shifted, only to be barreled into by Lucy's wolf.

The she-wolves snarled and snapped at each other, but Lucy was soon backed up by Levi and Gene. They flanked Amelia, snapping their sharp teeth at her sides and making her jump backward. The brown wolf growled, looking at her brother worriedly as Bella continued to choke him.

Shaman Dyami tried and failed to calm everyone, yelling for peace but it fell on deaf ears. His eagle took to the sky to avoid the conflict, and the Shaman cursed as he tried to garner everyone's attention.

"Bella! Put him down!" Charles yelled, reaching out and grabbing her arm.

His daughter snarled at him, throwing Quil with impressive force and making him slam into the ground. She whirled on their father, body trembling and eyes glowing as she ripped her arm away from him.

"Fuck you! You can't tell me what to do anymore!" Bella roared. "They keep calling her terrible names and you're not doing anything to stop them!" Her form shuttered and her canines grew even sharper. "You say one thing to defend her and that's it! That fucking bitch just called her a leech again, and you did nothing!"

Charles clenched his jaw. "That's not true. You didn't give me a chance to react. Even then, your response is inappropriate."

Quil's light brown wolf snarled and lunged forward, but Chilali's gold wolf was there to intercept him. She knocked the larger wolf to the ground, hackles raised and teeth bared as Quil got back on his paws.

"Alpha!" Shaman Dyami gave his shoulders a shake. "Control your pack! This is getting out of hand!"

Quil moved to attack again but Lucy appeared from behind him, leaving Gene and Levi guarding Amelia. Lucy chomped down on Quil's tail, making him yelp and whirl around, only for Chilali to snap her teeth at his hind legs.

Ephraim couldn't help but be proud. His pack had trained every day since their return, going over drills and learning from Charles how to properly kill monsters.

Never a lone wolf. That's how you die.

He observed them for a moment longer.

Good flanking. Quil has nowhere to go, and Amelia's only option is to flee or try to–

"Ephraim Black! Put a stop to this!"

He blinked, heat rushing to his face as he burst out of his skin.

His russet-colored wolf stood over all of them, and his ears flattened slightly at all the yelling in their pack link.

Touch Bella and die!

I fucking wish you would try to attack Mary Alice!

Traitors! All of you! That leech should–

Ephraim stepped forward, lifting his head and barking as loud as he could.

LAY DOWN!

Instantly the wolves froze, whining as they were brought to heel and forced to lay on their bellies.

This was what Charles had been training him for. To lead the next generation of shifters and to lead them well.

The wolf stalked forward, face low to the ground as he growled at his fellow shifters.

We hunt down vampires that harm humans. And we protect humans from any other supernatural creature that may hurt them. Mary Alice is not a threat. She is family. She is a valuable asset. Don't be foolish enough to turn away the help of a powerful creature because of pride.

While Ephraim had gained control of the shifters, Charles had not gained control of Bella.

"My response is inappropriate?" Bella snarled, tail lashing back and forth. "She's my newborn, and if I have to teach them a lesson then I will!"

Their father narrowed his eyes. "I understand that you're upset, you have every right to be. But you can't attack people because they say cruel things."

Angry tears burned in stormy grey eyes. "You don't understand anything! How could you let them say that to her? How could you let them hurt her!" Her words were beginning to slur together as she rambled, speaking in a fast and unsteadied pace as her emotions got the better of her. "You let her...you just let her take it! But I was there! I took care of her when you didn't!"

Ephraim felt the unease of his siblings and the confusion of the Atearas.

She's not talking about Mary Alice anymore.

Chilali's wolf whined softly, ears flattening as she looked at their sister.

"Woah, what happened to your shoulder?" Chilali asked, looking at the splotchy red skin on the ten year old's bare, right shoulder.

The two had nearly run into each other in the hall. The younger girl was wrapped in a towel, just having cleaned herself from their first trip to Aya's house.

Chilali hadn't meant to stare at it, but the scar looked as though it had been painful.

Thin, red streaks branched off from the larger scar, running down her shoulder and stopping just above her bicep. It contrasted sharply with her pale skin, and it almost looked as though it were painted on.

Grey eyes had filled with tears at Chilali's question, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped her towel. "Nothing! Fuck off!" She stormed past her, slamming her other shoulder into Chilali's as she went. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave me the hell alone!"

Ephraim's hackles raised, enraged by the memory.

"Wanna see something?" Aya asked, smiling as the child bounced up to her.

Ephraim watched them in disbelief.

Bella had come into their lives a couple weeks ago, and Aya had so easily won her over, whereas the rest of them were struggling to get so much as a smile out of her.

"Yeah!" She watched with rapt attention as Aya pulled out a paintbrush.

The Vodou Queen began painting on the table, a black kitten, and as she finished the tail it began to glow.

Bella's reaction startled them.

Her eyes were wide and a screech escaped her. The girl jumped away from Aya, leaping onto the kitchen counter and scrambling to get on top of the cupboard. With blunt nails she scratched at the cupboard doors, giving up on clawing her way to the top and yanking one open.

"Bella–" she jumped again, using the inner shelf to propel herself to the top of the cupboard.

"Stop it! Stop! I didn't do anything! Stop!" She hid her face in her hands and curled into a ball, trembling in fear.

Aya watched her with tears in her eyes, gesturing at Ephraim. "Go on now, boy. Go help your sister." The glowing stopped once Aya put her hand on the drawing.

Hesitantly, Ephraim stood to his feet and moved closer to Bella. "Bella. It's okay. It's over." He reached his arms up to her. "You can come down now."

She ignored him, refusing to move, and the Vodou Queen walked over to them. "Baby," she soothed. "I'm so sorry. C'mere now, let your brother get you down." Bella peeked at Aya. "I didn't know you was scared of magic. I'm so sorry. You know I ain't gonna hurt you."

After a bit more coaxing, Bella allowed Ephraim to help her down. She was in Aya's arms in seconds, face blank and grey eyes glassy as she leaned into her embrace.

"I...I don't know why that was scary." She whispered, looking so terrified that even Ephraim felt concerned.

He noticed the way Aya's eyes hardened, but her anger wasn't directed at them. "It ain't your fault, Bella. None of it is." Her voice remained gentle as she stroked the girl's hair. "The world is full of monsters. I'm just sorry one ever got to you."

A quiet whimper escaped Gene, and Levi and Lucy's ears mimicked Chilali's.

Quil and Amelia's wolves felt their anguish, and their own ears pressed against their heads as they looked at Bella with wide eyes.

Charles noticed his daughter's distress, and he softened. "Bella...I'm so sorry." Because he knew exactly what Bella was referring to. "I didn't know that she was pregnant. If I had known, I would have taken you away from that witch the moment you were born."

Their sister had never opened up about her experience with her birth mother. But they knew that, whatever she endured, had taken a toll on her.

Angry tears streamed down her cheeks. "What are you even talking about!"

"I'm sorry I didn't save you!" Charles exclaimed. His voice was drenched in pain and desperation. "But I'm here now, and I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll protect you."

Bella's body shook violently and the hair on her tail stood on end. "You'll protect me?" Golden ears sprouted upon her head, the tip of one should have been missing from the altercation with the Davenports, but her bracelet obscured the injury. "For ten years I survived without your protection! I don't need you or anyone else!"

"Bella I–"

"Worry about protecting yourself!"

She exploded into her werecat form, standing tall as she grabbed Charles by the arm and launched him into the forest.

Without a moment's hesitation, she bolted after him, snarling savagely as the lion werecat burst from the undergrowth and met the tiger.

Ephraim made a move to go after them when Shaman Dyami intercepted him. "Alpha, the werecats could accidentally tear you apart. We should all leave." He sounded sad as he stared in the direction of the werecats. No longer were they near them, but they had taken off running into the forest.

Ephraim wondered if their father ran to avoid having to fight Bella. Or if Bella ran when she realized, despite being stronger than their father, he was the superior fighter.

I'll talk to Bella when this is over.

Levi offered.

Ephraim gave his wolf a nod.

I'll talk to our father. I'll check in on Bella after.

He shifted back into his human form, turning his attention to the Shaman. "Take Quil and Amelia home. We'll meet with them tomorrow." He gave their wolves a glare. "Mary Alice is our sister. I think we've made it very clear that we're willing to fight for her."

Shaman Dyami nodded, gesturing for the two Atearas to follow him. "Thank you, Ephraim." The brown wolves snarled quietly at Ephraim in passing, but he ignored them. "You have the makings of a fine Alpha." He gave him a smile. "It's your conviction. Your strength. You get it from your mother."

My mother?

He hardly remembered what his birth mother looked like, much less who she was.

Ephraim considered asking questions, questions that had gone unanswered for years because he worried about making his father distraught.

Later. When everything settles.

The Shaman and his children left.

Chilali ran to get Aya, and the rest of them waited until their father and sister returned home.

...

"This is my fault." Charles sighed, sitting at the kitchen table and using a damp rag to wipe the blood from his face. "Her resentment, her anger...she never talked about her mother. So...I didn't pry. I left it alone." His wounds had already healed, but the ripped clothes and bloodstains remained.

Chilali sat next to Ephraim, across from their father, and looked at him unsympathetically. "You ignored it."

Charles swallowed thickly, setting the rag down and beginning to remove the leaves from his hair. "I did. I thought it would be better that way. I thought she would come to me on her own time." He began fiddling with one of the many tears in his shirt. "I tried to bury all the pain her mother inflicted. Instead, I allowed the resentment to fester." He sighed, taking off his crumpled tie and tossing it on the table. "I'm not very good at dealing with these things. This is Aya's territory, not mine."

Ephraim scowled at their father.

Is that why you can never speak about our parents? Do you worry about the emotion you'll show? Do you want to avoid dealing with our emotions?

"That's bullshit!"

Their father stared blankly ahead. "It is. She deserves better from me. You all do." His eyes were glassy. Sad. "After the vampires came, I returned here...I buried my family." Charles swallowed thickly, lost in the memory. "Werecats are some of the best creatures when it comes to adapting to change. We're similar to doppelgangers in that sense, wearing many faces in order to survive and fit in. We bury the past and keep moving forward. But that's not always the best solution."

His sister pursed her lips, shifting in her seat and glancing at Ephraim. "That's what Bella's doing with Rosalie."

"The same thing she did with her mother." Charles agreed, scratching at the back of his head. "She's a tigress. Independent by nature. She's gotten used to our pack, our pride, but getting her to open up is like pulling teeth."

Ephraim scoffed at that, leaning back in his chair and glaring at their father. "Then pull some teeth. Say something. She needs you."

Charles nodded, still looking distant as he said, "I'm worried about who Rosalie was to Bella. Love is intense...but a part of me always wondered if they were mates." A weary sigh escaped him. "I wish she had come with us. Then we'd know for certain."

"Why not send Bella to find her?"

"I tried." He murmured, rubbing his face. "She yelled at me. Says she wants nothing to do with her. Maybe I...maybe I should have pulled some teeth. But I let it go."

Chilali stood to her feet abruptly. "Christ, dad. She..." an exasperated noise escaped her. "You know how she gets! You know–"

"That sometimes, it's better to leave the past alone." He interjected. "What if Rosalie wasn't her mate? What if Bella impulsively turned her? What if Rosalie still chooses to stay in New York?" He shook his head. "Sometimes, it's better to leave things be. At least, that's what I thought, at the time."

His eldest daughter raised a brow. "And now?"

His jaw clenched. "Now, I still think it's for the best that I let it go. I won't send her back to the girl who broke her heart."

Ephraim eyed his father worriedly. His temper could get the better of him when it came to his children.

Just as his temper got the better of him the night the Davenports harrassed his daughters and injured Bella.

Charles smiled thinly at them. "It's Bella's choice, but I would prefer for her to move on rather than be caught up with...her."

But Ephraim couldn't be mad at Rosalie. He was disappointed she hurt his sister, but she was a scared girl, and he couldn't blame her for staying.

But she didn't have to be cruel. She could have at least replied to Bella's letters.

Chilali snorted at this. "Sure, hold a grudge against a kid."

"I intend to." Charles stood to his feet, lips pursed and eyes cold. "You heard your sister's cries at night. I'm surprised you don't feel the same." Before she could respond he made his way towards the door. "I need to go speak to Bella. The two of you should check in with her when you have the chance." And he left without another word.

Dad has always struggled with holding grudges. But this...

Ephraim sighed and looked at his sister. "Today was..." he felt emotionally drained. Emotionally exhausted.

"Shit."

A surprised laugh escaped him and he nodded. "Yeah, it was shit." He stood to his feet and slung an arm around her shoulders. "But it was less shit because of you, partner."

She rolled her eyes but a small smile crept upon her lips. "I guess...it wasn't so bad." She conceded, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Those werecats are a handful."

"Aren't they."

And when Ephraim went to his baby sister, she was curled in Gene's lap and fast asleep.

Mary Alice sat on Gene's left and Levi sat on his right.

"Bella's stronger than we sometimes give her credit for." Levi was saying as Ephraim walked into his brother's home. "But I always try to remind her of how strong she is." He was holding Bella's hand in his while Mary Alice gently stroked the gold tail that rested in her lap.

The vampire nodded slowly, still looking over her bondmate worriedly. "How was she as a kid? All this stuff with her mama...how did she handle that?"

Ephraim wondered how much his brothers told her.

Gene winced. "She was such an asshole when she first came to live with us...but I get it now. She's a good kid. Always has been. She just grew up with a monster." He looked up at Ephraim. "Want to reminisce with us, Eph?" A quiet laugh escaped him. "I was sitting outside with her once she came home. We counted the stars until she calmed down and fell asleep."

"She's exhausted, so I don't think we should wake her up." Levi fretted, and Ephraim nodded as he closed the door behind him.

"She needs her rest."

Bella's eyes fluttered open for a moment, and she grumbled something before nestling deeper into Gene's arms.

This made Gene smile. "That's right. Rest easy, kid. We'll take care of you."

"We always will," Levi added, wearing a soft look as Bella gave his hand a gentle squeeze before she slipped back into a deep sleep.

Ephraim joined them on the couch, sitting next to Mary Alice and thoughtlessly throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Did dad stop by?" He felt the vampire tense and his eyes widened. "Oh, sorry–"

"It's...it's fine." She murmured, leaning into his side and releasing a tired huff as she slowly relaxed her tense form. "Ya'll don't really spook me anymore." She was quiet for a moment before saying, "Thank you for protecting her...and for protecting me. I know my mind ain't right 'cause of my memories, but, if ya'll got the time, I'd like to hear about who you were to me."

Ephraim smiled. "We have time. I'll get Lucy and Chi."

Gene grinned. "And I'll start telling you how amazing I am–" Levi punched his shoulder and Gene scowled at him. "Dammit, Uley!"

"Don't start off by lying to her, Lahote."

The two bickered quietly and Mary Alice laughed, giving Eph a slight wave as he ran to go get his sisters.

The stress of the day had gotten to him. It had gotten to all of them.

And there was still the Atearas to deal with but, at the very least, Mary Alice was starting to smile around them again.

---

"It's been a year, Rosalie."

A year spent dodging Royce, avoiding the wedding planning, ignoring the urgency to set a date.

A year spent retreating to Vera's and Timothy's apartment, playing with baby Eleanor and babysitting when the two were at work.

A year spent visiting the Cullens, more specifically, Esme and Carlisle, and feigning annoyance while secretly enjoying their company.

People were beginning to talk, but what did she care?

As far as she was concerned they were beneath her. Nothing more than a gaggle of incompetent fools.

Mindless, cooing pigeons that had nothing better to do than to stand around and attempt to shit on the many things and people that were better than them.

They did so with herself and her mother, and they did so with the Cullen family. And they had done so to the Swans.

But it would all be for not.

Insidious rumors were easy to ignore. Just as the mindless pigeons were easy to intimidate.

Rumors or not, love or hate, they still knew their place.

And that would always be beneath her heel.

"It has."

Her father blinked owlishly at her. "You're nineteen."

She was nineteen. And two days ago she had found the letters Bella had written her, all hidden away in her father's office.

Whether it was Robert or Lillian, or both, who had hidden the letters, she couldn't be sure.

But she wouldn't dwell on this anger, not now. Not when she knew how the argument would play out.

Rosalie walked across the room, not bothering to look at her father as she sat down in front of her vanity. "I am." She began applying her makeup, only a touch of it would be necessary.

"Royce's father wants to know when the wedding will be–"

"Perhaps when his son stops drinking." She applied some blush to her cheeks. "Would you like to tell him? Or should I?"

She wasn't sure how much longer she could put up with Royce.

But marrying him was out of the question.

The fist that slammed on her vanity should have startled her, but she didn't so much as blink as her father's red face came into view. "Rosalie Hale! I'm tired of your childish behavior!"

She shouldn't have laughed, but she did. "Royce shouts a lot. He hits things when he's upset. He hits things when there isn't a drink in his hand."

Rosalie looked at herself in the mirror, pleased with her beauty, because nowadays it was one of the few things that she had to herself. It was something no one else could dictate.

"You speak of childish behaviors when you and Royce are the ones that throw tantrums whenever you're denied."

'No one denies a Hale. Allow me to be the first.'

Robert clenched his jaw. "Careful. I've been very lenient with you. Don't make me regret that."

She hummed and picked up her brush. "Sometimes I fear that Royce will hit me. But that doesn't concern you, does it?" Wavy, golden hair spilled down her back as she brushed through the nonexistent tangles.

This made him falter, eyes widening slightly as he looked at his daughter in disbelief. "I...I know I can be hard on you. But I love you. I do. I don't want to see you hurt–"

"Then let me call off the engagement."

'Listen to me. Please. Please listen to me.'

He looked away from her.

"If you don't want me to get hurt, let me marry someone else. Someone of my choosing."

'Bella...all I ever wanted was Bella–'

"Get OUT!"

Edward hissed when a long, sharp icicle impaled his chest.

The mind reader fell to his knees, clenching his jaw at the piercing pain that came with Rosalie's ice.

Her gift was a powerful one, one that could incapacitate vampires for a time, much like Kate's electricity.

With a snarl he removed the ice from his chest, glaring into Rosalie's cold blue eyes. "I didn't mean to–"

"You never mean to. But you always do!" The blonde hissed, standing from her spot on the sofa to tower over him.

His gift felt as though it was alive.

Never could he reside in his own mind.

His gift always wandered, latching onto the closest thought. It was as though it couldn't handle the silence. It was as though it tired of his own thoughts.

Maybe this was a mistake. Being a vampire...it was supposed to give me freedom. I was supposed to find Bella and…

But she worried that she was undeserving of her old friend's love. She worried that she would find Bella, and the girl would have moved on and found someone who loved her the way Rosalie couldn't.

And part of her worried that Edward was right.

What if she thinks I'm a monster? What if she rejects me because of all the horrible things I said to her? What if she doesn't love me anymore–

"Edward!"

He got to his feet, crushing the ice in his fist and glaring at the younger vampire. "It's difficult to control! Just as your ice is!" Rosalie said nothing, instead, she glared at him. "Trust me, I don't voluntarily wander into your mind." He sneered, watching as thick shards of ice slowly crept their way up Rosalie's fingers. "I find very little there but vanity and petulance."

She cocked her head to the side. "How strange, considering I vividly imagine all the ways I can turn you to ash."

Before he could retort Esme appeared, looking in-between the two of her children in disappointment. "That's enough."

Blue eyes reverted to red, and the newborn clenched her jaw at her maker's chastising. "He was in my head, again."

The mind reader felt his power reach out, infiltrating his mother's thoughts.

Not again.

Turning Rose into a vampire was supposed to make her happy. It was supposed to open up her options.

Not again not again not again–

"Rose?"

The blonde had been crying. Her dress was torn, her cheek had a red handprint etched on pale skin. Blue eyes were wide, mixed with panic and relief as trembling legs took a step forward.

Rosalie stood on a broken heel, and the engagement ring on her finger was dulled by a fresh coat of crimson. The knuckles on both hands were a faint blue and green, bruised from striking bone.

A strap of her dress was ripped, leaving it hanging and revealing part of her bra. Her hair was frizzed and disheveled, and her breathing was rapid and shallow as though she couldn't catch her breath.

Carlisle was with her, eyes black with fury as he gently escorted her inside.

Edward clenched his jaw. "What happened!" He demanded, making Esme grimace.

Rosalie's wide eyes fixed on him, and she regarded him warily, heart thundering in her chest as she inched closer to Carlisle.

They all knew what had happened. They could smell Royce's stench surrounding her. Alcohol clung to her dress, mixing with Royce's blood on the engagement ring.

Esme reached out, putting a hand on Edward's shoulder and stopping him. "Go get Rosalie some ice, please." Too quietly for Rosalie to hear, she said, "This is not about you. She was attacked. She needs us to be gentle. That means no aggression, even if it's towards Royce."

Rosalie's state of distress and despair was all too familiar.

It reminded Esme of her human life.

A life spent with rough hands, cruel words, bruised skin, and bloody noses.

It reminded Esme of a life that was wasted.

A life spent hiding in plain sight, keeping her mouth shut and her head bowed.

And then, inadvertently, it reminded Esme of a life that was lost.

A life that she had created, with her plump red cheeks and bright blue eyes and curly blonde hair.

A life that encouraged her to take action. A life that forced her to be strong. A life that emboldened her to run from the rough hands, cruel words, bruised skin, and bloody noses.

Esme had created a life that, for the first time in years, had given her a reason to smile.

And when that life was lost, so was her reason for living.

'Stop it. Rosalie needs you. This is about her.'

Edward stared at her for a moment, forcing himself to calm down. It was clear he had read her mind, eyes softening and a quiet apology escaping him before he turned to Rosalie.

"I'll get you some ice." He spoke gently, quickly turning on his heel and entering the kitchen.

Carlisle escorted Rosalie to their living room with Esme in tow. He assisted the girl in sitting on their sofa, casting a worried glance at Esme as she sat on Rosalie's other side.

"I got there before he could..." he trailed off, brow furrowing. "I stopped him. I just wish I had gotten there sooner."

Rosalie was trembling, staring vacantly ahead as she wrapped her arms around herself. Her bottom lip quivered and tears slipped down her cheeks.

Never had Esme seen the girl so frightened.

She had always been fascinated by Rosalie.

The young woman was everything Esme wasn't, especially at her age.

She was strong and independent. Intelligent and witty. She bore a sharp tongue and a glare as chilling as ice.

And yet, there was a gentleness to her, one that took Esme nearly an entire year to see for herself.

She had seen the blonde's pain when she first entered the former home of the Swan's. But it had been masked away by her hard exterior and biting words.

It had been a month or two ago when Rosalie had inadvertently opened up to Esme.

Her eyes had softened and the corner of her lip had curled into the barest hint of a smile. The sternness in her face had ebbed away in the middle of their conversation, and Esme had cherished that moment ever since.

Rosalie was everything Esme had wished her younger self to be.

But now, she was hurting.

She was engaged to an abusive man and Esme couldn't sit by and watch it happen.

She wouldn't.

'I wasn't able to save my daughter…but maybe…maybe I can save you…if you'll let me.'

Esme gently took one of Rosalie's hands in hers before addressing her mate. "Would you please get her a change of clothes? We need to throw these out." At the mention of removing her clothes, Rosalie tensed, leaning away from Carlisle and eyeing him worriedly. "It's alright." She soothed, ignoring the burn of unshed tears. "Carlisle and Edward will give us privacy. I'm right here. I won't leave unless you ask me to."

Because, in her youth, all Esme had ever wanted was for someone to comfort her.

The girl looked at her with broken blue eyes. "I...I want Aya." She whimpered, making Esme fight back a sob. "I want Bella."

She remembered that look.

She had seen that broken look every day in the mirror when her heart used to beat and her tears used to fall.

All she had wanted was her mother, even though she had told Esme to push through the pain to make the marriage work.

'Aya must be a mother to her. I can bring her here. Anything to make Rosalie feel better.'

Edward had mentioned hearing about a Bella in Rosalie's thoughts. Someone the girl loved deeply. Someone who was gone and would most likely not return.

Her son entered the room, leaving the ice on the table and quickly leaving to give them privacy. Carlisle went with him, uttering too quiet for human ears that he would check Rosalie's injuries once she was in a better place.

Esme nodded slowly as she watched them leave. "I don't know who Aya is. I can find her and-"

"No!" Rosalie clutched her hand tightly, more tears streaming down her cheeks. "Stay. Please stay. I don't want to be alone." She choked out.

She almost sobbed, but that was the last thing the human needed.

Esme was careful in her movements, not wanting to spook the girl as she gently wrapped her arms around her.

"You won't be alone. I'm here." Rosalie clung to her, crying silently into Esme's neck as the older woman held her close. "I'll keep you safe."

'I'll make it so Royce can never hurt you again.'

Edward kept his gaze lowered, unable to look at his mother or Rosalie.

He remembered that night vividly.

He remembered wanting to hunt Royce down and slaughter him like the animal he was.

It was with great shame that he recalled being so absorbed in his own emotions, after having read both Carlisle's and Rosalie's minds.

Seeing how Royce had treated her was infuriating.

Sickening.

As was witnessing his intentions. Intentions he would have acted upon had Carlisle not scared him away.

And then our mother gave Rosalie a choice of whether or not she wanted to be a monster. And like the silly girl she is, she accepted.

"See, this is why you shouldn't be invading everyone's privacy." Rosalie snarled. "You're saddened by someone else's thoughts. Save your pity for whoever you're mated to." She turned on her heel. "I know I will, the poor thing."

Edward clenched his jaw, about to retort when he was given a look from their mother.

But even this frustrated him.

She's always been too soft on Rosalie.

"Rose," Esme warned, making her newborn pause. "You know he can't control it."

Why can't the two of you get along?

His mother's distress made him soften, but, as usual, Rosalie reignited his anger with only a mere sentence.

"Well, thank God he can make excuses instead of actually trying to control it."

Edward bared his teeth at her. "It's not that simple–"

"I'm sorry, I don't recall asking." She shrugged, examining her nails as though she were bored. "However, because our mother is here, I'll 'behave' myself," she scoffed. "Perhaps you can learn something from the newborn, you glorified peeping tom."

Ice sprouted from beneath her heels, slowly encasing the floor as her anger grew, and Edward couldn't help but laugh haughtily at her.

"Go work on controlling your gift. At least mine isn't destructive." He eyed her distastefully. "I find it very fitting to your character. Destroying all the good you had with your coldness and cruelty."

He knew she had chased Bella away. He knew their relationship was ruined because she had been hateful. He knew, towards the end of her human life, she had pushed her mother away. And, had it not been for Vera's baby, Rosalie would have chased her close friend off as well.

You couldn't have everything you wanted, so you made everyone as miserable as you are.

"Who will you scare off next, Rose? Esme? Carlisle?"

"Edward–"

In a flash of speed, Rosalie was in front of him. Her fist had been encased with ice, sharpening into a thick point that was almost spearlike despite its shorter reach.

Edward had managed to put his arm up to protect his face just as the ice cut through his skin, piercing his forearm and going right through it. Her blade of ice remained attached to her fist, and the mind reader felt his eyes water.

He screamed in agony, her ice burned in a way that was similar to venom.

The difference was the cold that came with it. Whereas venom was more akin to fire, Rosalie's ice created a chill so deep it could make a vampire shiver.

It was a chill so deep that, for a moment, Edward was humbled.

For a moment, he felt human.

Edward watched with wide eyes as Rosalie loomed over him, once red eyes now a chilling blue as she glared at him.

How could someone as insufferable and idiotic as you possibly understand my life?

He saw flashes of memories.

Charles. Aya. Ephraim. Chilali. Levi. Gene. Lucy. Mary Alice.

Rosalie's free hand made its way to his throat, squeezing so tightly that cracks rippled across the skin of his neck.

Bella.

He saw Rosalie's mother.

"My life is not easy, Rose. Because if it was, I wouldn't be standing here, hating myself for bringing a child into this world that bears the same sickness as I do."

"What I want? No one ever asked me that. I was always told what I wanted. I was always told what to do."

"...the freedom to make my own mistakes is all I ever wanted."

"I resent my mother for her restrictions, and for her coldness. I never wanted for you to resent me."

"I'm sad because I did this to you. And I'm so sorry."

"...Rose? Please…please don't shut me out. I love you. Please."

He saw her father.

"You have to get over this strange heartache for Bella. So she's not answering your letters. She's moved on, and so should you."

"Call off the wedding? Do you know how important this union is to us? You will be Rosalie King. You will marry Royce, as you agreed to when you accepted his engagement ring."

"Did you hear about that one boy? For the life of me, I can't remember his name. Well, he was found with Bennett Sanders. Sanders comes from a good family, he'll go to the hospital until he's well again. But that boy, well, word got out and they beat him bloody. Between you and me, they should have gotten Sanders too. Things like that…it's unnatural."

He saw Bella.

"Why do you ask me stupid questions like that? Of course I'm in love with you, dummy."

"Come on, princess. Let's practice cooking. I'm tired of eating unseasoned food."

"You keep talking about your duty to your family, and what you have to do...but what about what you want? What do you want, Rose?"

"Rose. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want me. Say that, and I'll drop this. I'll go."

Everything clicked into place.

Edward had only seen snippets of Rosalie's memories during her human years. Whenever she'd begin to think of something disheartening, or a warm memory that made her smile, she would quickly force it from her mind.

But now…now he understood.

You became this way in order to protect yourself.

"Rosalie!" Esme yelled, panicked for her children and the possible fight that would break out.

I was rarely able to choose anything for myself.

Edward put up his free hand to stop their mother.

I couldn't choose who to marry or who to love. I couldn't choose to leave with Bella.

Rosalie's blue eyes reverted to red.

But I could choose how I reacted to my fate. I could choose how I responded to those around me. And when I was given the choice to become a vampire…the choice to become free, I took it.

Edward had thought little of Rosalie's circumstances.

In his eyes, Rosalie was a vain, spoiled brat with an attitude problem. She had chosen to become a vampire in order to find her Bella. She wanted to make Bella like her, damn her to become a monster, just so they could spend eternity together.

It was more than that. I should have known. I should have…

"I…I shouldn't have said what I did." He looked at her with a furrowed brow. "I understand, and I'm sorry for what I said. I'm sorry for–"

Rosalie sneered at him, ripping her ice blade from his arm and shoving him away. "Spare me your bullshit apologies. I wasn't opening up to you, I was showing you who you really are." Edward held his arm to his chest, licking his hand and applying venom to his wound, looking at her as it healed. "Do you know why I pick fights with you?"

Esme looked between the two of them worriedly. "Maybe we should–"

"It's because I can feel you invading my thoughts and judging me for having them. You tried so hard to talk me out of vampirism because you think the entire family is damned and soulless." Rosalie hissed. "And when I turned, you acted as though I was stupid when that is far from the truth. I'm not stupid for wanting to be free from that life, you little ingrate."

"Rosalie–"

"You were the one that was too stupid to see my shallow thoughts for what they really were."

She left the house in the blink of an eye, slamming the front door so hard it fell off its hinges and slammed onto the floor.

I should go after her. She needs–

"She's going to find Carlisle," Edward murmured. "She appreciates his more technical approach to problems. She thinks you and I are too emotional–"

"Edward!" He looked at his now angered mother in surprise. "Those are her thoughts. Not yours." A sigh escaped her and she slowly approached the broken door. "When your sister comes home, you'll apologize the correct way…and you'll practice staying in your own mind."

Esme had never been short with him before. He wondered if his father shared her frustrations with his mind-reading abilities.

I love you. I know it's difficult, but Rosalie is right. You need to respect her boundaries.

She picked up the door with ease and set it upright. "I'm going to find Rosalie. Please try to make things right. I know she can be rude, but she's a newborn and I'll monitor her behavior as well. I hate how you two talk to each other."

It's a phase, just like I read in that parenting book. The first child can be too comfortable being the only child, and when another joins the family there's a bit of chaos–

"I'll try, mother. I'm sorry."

He would be genuine in his efforts to make things right. Rosalie deserved better from him, and so did their mother.

…

Controlling his gift felt impossible, but he tried, he really did.

I want to do a braid, it keeps my hair tamer when I'm out hunting. Bella was always so good at braiding hair. Eph and Chi taught her, and she would always do mine–

Edward furrowed his brow when he felt the blonde's heavy gaze on him. "Sorry." He quickly ripped himself from Rosalie's thoughts, and his gift leaped to Carlisle's unsuspecting mind.

His father was in the kitchen with Esme, watching with rapt attention as she made the cookie dough to bake for his coworkers.

I told her that this wouldn't be necessary. No one expects me to bring cookies in. They expect me to save lives. I wonder why she's so insistent on doing this.

Carlisle watched his mate silently, lips quirking upward as Esme hummed to herself and added the chocolate chips.

But this makes her happy, so who am I to question it?

Esme looked up from her work, turning to Rosalie with a smile. "Rose, would you like to help me make the batter? Most of it's finished–"

"No, thank you," Rosalie muttered, neatly putting her braid together as she mindlessly watched the television.

It was clear that the newborn wasn't focused on anyone but herself. Though, Edward was learning that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Rosalie was too consumed in her own thoughts of…

Stop.

He retreated to Esme's mind.

She hardly does anything but hunt, read, and watch television. She calls me her mother, but getting her to open up or do things with me is like pulling teeth. What am I doing wrong?

His mother's pain was palpable, and Edward couldn't help but turn to Rosalie and ask, "May I go hunting with you?"

He could hear Esme's thoughts lighten up, though Carlisle's mind echoed with worry about a possible fight breaking out. The thought nearly made him laugh. He understood his father's worry, but he now better understood Rosalie as well.

Rosalie glanced at him, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why?"

Edward tried to come up with an answer, but nothing came to mind. "I suppose I would just like to…accompany you."

At least if he starts anything, I can tear him apart without Esme and Carlisle intervening…get out, Edward, so I can fantasize about killing you in peace.

The mind reader rolled his eyes and Rosalie finished her braid. "Fine. But no talking. I can hardly stand your presence when you're silently brooding, much less when you're blathering about nonsense."

He scowled but said nothing, choosing to instead follow her out of the house and into the woods.

It was on their hunt that Edward remained in the minds of the forest animals.

They didn't think in words, they thought in pictures. It was a jumbled assortment of fast flashing images that made it difficult for him to concentrate.

But it kept his gift busy enough to stay out of Rosalie's mind, and for that he was grateful. Even a little proud.

This wasn't the first time his gift had latched onto the mind of animals. When he was a newborn, hunting had been miserable if he wasn't with his mother or father.

It was hard seeing myself through the eyes of my prey. A terrifying monster they were desperate to escape.

Sometimes he contemplated hunting down abusive and murderous men, as he had frequently in the past. At least then, when he saw himself through their eyes, he appreciated the monster they saw before them.

Men like that didn't deserve comfort, only pain and fear, and that's exactly what he gave him. And yet, it only further solidified what he truly knew.

I'm a monster.

After a while, he couldn't handle reading their thoughts.

They were vile, destructive, and he was always left reeling afterward. To constantly hear their wicked thoughts was a burden, one that suffocated him and made him feel as though the world was…

Ugly.

He had become numb.

Apathetic.

And then I…stop it. Stop.

It was Carlisle that had brought him home. And it was Esme that helped him find the beauty in the world once again.

And Edward had better honed his gift, concentrating on other animals rather than the ones he was hunting.

Red eyes were staring at him as Rosalie drained her elk, but Edward was concentrating on a nearby rabbit instead.

Images of humans. Vegetation. Birds of prey circling. Diving. She runs. Trees and shrubbery fly past. The safety of the burrow is close–

"You're not reading my thoughts." Rosalie dropped the elk, licking the blood from her lips and continuing to stare at Edward.

He glanced at her. "I'm trying to control my gift. I'm trying to give you privacy, so I'm reading the mind of animals."

"Hm." He assumed that was the closest he was going to get to a 'thank you' so he left it alone. "Let's go back."

Edward shook his head. "In a moment…" the bird dove, talons outstretched, but the rabbit evaded. "I wanted to speak with you."

"No."

"It won't take long–"

"No."

"Rosalie–"

"No."

He clenched his jaw. "It's about Esme." This gave her pause, much to his relief. "She would like to spend more time with you. It would mean a lot to her if you cooked or painted with her."

The blonde raised a brow. "Oh? And she told you that's what she wanted?"

Edward knew where she was going with this. "No, but–"

"You read her mind, without her permission, and decided to come speak to me about a private thought she had?" The rabbit was almost to the burrow, the sharp cry of the large bird made her hair stand up.

The mind reader looked away from her. "I've been trying to control my gift–"

"But you still told me about my mother's thoughts, behind her back, in order to change my behavior." Rosalie laughed, but it was devoid of emotion. "A bit manipulative, don't you think?" Before he could argue she put a hand up to stop him. "I'll consider what you said, so long as you consider what I said."

He blinked owlishly at her. "Really?"

The rabbit dove into the burrow, safe from the large bird's talons.

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Yes, really." Edward wondered if Rosalie's consideration was because of the maker bond, but he refrained from invading her privacy. "I…can concede that you were trying to help. But you should really let people speak for themselves."

He nodded, unable to suppress his relieved smile. "Thank you, Rosalie." He thought about what she said for a moment. "And, you're right–"

"I know." She said flippantly, walking past him with her head held high. "I always am."

Edward rolled his eyes but said nothing, watching as she disappeared into the forest.

Rosalie Hale was obnoxious but…he supposed she wasn't as infuriating as he had once believed her to be.

…

It was two months later when Rosalie walked into the house wearing a beautiful white wedding dress.

The dress hugged her form perfectly, accentuating her curves and making her golden hair look even brighter in contrast. The veil was pulled back so it remained out of her face, and the bouquet was gripped firmly in her right hand.

Rosalie looked haunting.

Her eyes were still a brilliant red, and the dress smelled faintly of alcohol and…

Royce. Oh, Rosalie, what did you do?

Carlisle stood to his feet, looking at Rosalie with wide eyes. "Rose, what did you–"

Rosalie smiled blithely at him, bypassing her stunned maker and stopping in front of Edward and Carlisle. "I officially broke off my engagement to Royce. He didn't take it very well." She took off her veil and set it on the kitchen countertop. "Not many would, I suppose. Especially if they were engaged to me." She gave them a twirl, looking pleased with herself as she said, "My mother told me I'd make a beautiful bride. She was right, of course, and I'm sure Royce would have agreed if he had stopped blubbering." She set the bouquet down next to her veil. "Well, I made him stop blubbering. And by the time it was said and done, he just couldn't keep his eyes off me." A quiet laugh escaped her. "Why, he couldn't even blink. Isn't that something?"

Their father regarded her warily. "Rose, you didn't have to kill him."

This garnered him a look from his mate.

Edward once killed and drained men just like Royce. For Rosalie to go back for revenge…does that truly warrant your disappointment?

But Carlisle's thoughts did not coincide with Esme's.

I've seen revenge become a part of Edward. I've seen it hurt him. I don't want the same for Rosalie.

Carlisle didn't disapprove of Rosalie's choice, but he worried about what this could mean for his daughter.

"Oh, but I did." She hummed, passing him and grabbing a random book from the shelf. "He had once tried to take what he wanted from me. So, it was only right that I took what I wanted." She examined the book, a faint smile still on her lips. "It wasn't his life that I wanted. Not really. I just wanted to see him suffer. I just wanted to see him dead." She looked up at them. "And now I have."

Esme glanced at Carlisle and Edward before turning to her newborn. "Did you drink from him?"

This made the blonde wrinkle her nose in disgust. "Of course not." She opened the book, red eyes skimming the pages mindlessly. "I don't want any part of him inside me. I would sooner go to the Volturi and ask to be put down." Frost slowly crept over the book. "I didn't spill a drop of Royce's blood, just to be sure."

Edward stared at her in shock. Such restraint from a newborn was beyond impressive. The temptation of human blood alone should have been enough to drive Rosalie into a feeding frenzy.

But she went into town, avoided all the humans, beat Royce to death, and didn't have a drop of human blood.

Esme's and Carlisle's thoughts mimicked Edward's own.

Rosalie looked at her maker. "Don't feel too bad, mother. Nothing you could have said would have stopped me." She set the frost-covered book aside. "My father had a saying, 'no one denies a Hale.' I had gone to Royce that night to end our engagement. He denied me. And now he's dead."

I killed him. He's gone. That monster is–

Edward looked away from her, shifting his gift to focus on Carlisle until Rosalie looked at him.

"That's quite alright. I invite you to see what I did to him." There was a growl in her throat, and her voice was growing louder and louder by the second. "You saw through my eyes when he attempted to assault me, so look through my eyes as I beat him to death! Look through my eyes as I make him cry and scream and beg for mercy, a mercy he had once denied me! Look, Edward!"

The mind reader shook his head. "I don't need to–"

"You do! Look! Look, damn you!" She roared, slamming her fist into the bookshelf behind her, not looking back as it exploded and the books went flying. "You saw me as the victim, now see me as the victor! Look at me, Edward! See me!"

See you?

Carlisle's thoughts were loud.

She's ashamed of that night, Edward. She's ashamed that you saw her vulnerability.

They mirrored Esme's thoughts.

Edward's seen things Rosalie never wanted to share. She's trying to correct that. She's trying to show her strength.

He had been wrong before.

Because it was now, at this moment, that Edward finally understood Rosalie.

He understood why her mind had consisted of shallow thoughts of vanity and pride. He understood why Rosalie did not delve deeper, at least, when he was around.

Edward was in front of Rosalie in the blink of an eye, moving carefully, just as his mother had when Rosalie had come to them that night. He made sure she had the chance to move away if she were uncomfortable. He made sure that he wasn't overstepping his boundaries.

I've dealt with monstrous men like Royce…but never the women they hurt.

The night Rosalie was saved by Carlisle, Edward had almost gone into a frenzy. He had almost gone after Royce.

He hadn't seen how his anger scared Rosalie until Esme pointed it out.

Edward had been blinded by his rage. He had been blinded by his desire for justice.

That night, Rosalie hadn't needed some undead vigilante to deal with Royce. She had only needed comfort, and he hadn't been able to see that.

Just as, right now, Rosalie didn't need some lecture about how dangerous her actions were. She didn't need validation of her actions, even though she would appreciate hearing such things from him.

Right now, she needed comfort.

Finally, he could see it.

He could see the uncertainty and the sadness in red eyes. It was covered up well by anger as she glared at Edward, but not well enough to be overlooked.

He could see the way her shoulders slightly sagged, and the way her body was rigid with discomfort.

He could see the slight glisten of wet eyes and the way Rosalie's jaw tightened as she tried to hold herself together.

She wanted to be seen as strong.

She wanted for Edward to overlook her vulnerability, even as her hands trembled slightly and her fingertips became coated in ice.

Rosalie hoped that the upward tilt of her head and purse of her lips would distract him from the pain she felt.

And Edward was willing to bet that her thoughts were carefully crafted, displaying nothing but her brutality towards Royce, should Edward choose to look.

But he didn't.

Because, for months, Rosalie had been hiding her true thoughts whenever he was near.

So, Edward didn't look into her mind.

Instead, he looked at her.

"Rosalie." With great care, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "I see you." Her eyes widened. "Your mother was right, you make a beautiful bride. I understand why Royce couldn't even stand to blink in your presence. You look absolutely heart-stopping."

A startled laugh escaped her, making Edward's eyebrows raise.

Rosalie had always been extremely beautiful, and now, as a vampire, her beauty was unmatched.

But he had never heard her laugh, loud and full.

He had never seen the way her eyes lit up with unbridled mirth.

He had never seen the way her smile unfurled, wide and bright and infectious.

He was certain that Rosalie was the most beautiful vampire he had ever seen, and he couldn't help but smile back at his sister.

Edward could hear the amused thoughts of their parents, and he didn't have to look at them to know they were both smiling as well.

When she finished laughing her smile shrunk, becoming minuscule and nearly hidden, but she couldn't hide the relief and warmth that filled her red eyes.

"Heart-stopping." She hummed, watching as the ice dissipated from her fingertips. "For once, dear brother, I think you're right."

---

Mary Alice didn't remember anything.

But certain things felt familiar.

Bella felt familiar, so did Aya.

The vampire watched as rays of sunlight seeped through the clouds.

"You're sad."

Her werecat had no response. She watched silently as the sun danced along Mary Alice's skin, making it twinkle in the light like a sea of diamonds.

Bella had just returned from New York. Why she had gone there, Mary Alice couldn't be certain.

It wasn't the first time she visited New York by herself.

Quite some time ago Bella had gone to visit her old friend, Vera, who she still wrote to after all these years. She had accidentally crashed her daughter's birthday party and had to scramble to go find a gift before returning to their apartment.

"She's a good friend. I told her we were only going to talk about her and her kids, and she honored that."

But this trip to New York felt different.

Before Bella had left she appeared nervous.

She was gone for a few weeks, leading Mary Alice to believe that, after her stop at Rochester, she had gone to the Denali coven in Alaska.

Because, when her sister needed an escape, she sought it in the gold-eyed coven.

Or, more specifically, she sought it in the gold-eyed sisters.

But Bella never visited them without Mary Alice, unless...

Something went wrong.

She watched quietly as Bella's gold tail curled around her leg.

She's hurting.

Mary Alice couldn't remember anything, but certain things felt familiar.

The anger that swam in grey eyes felt familiar.

She had seen it before, more than once.

And the sadness that lurked beneath...

I've seen that a lot too.

Slender fingers ran through black curls, and the vampire couldn't help but purr quietly as she nestled deeper into Bella's lap.

Her werecat was her protector, her best friend, her sister. She loved her more than anything.

It was in quiet moments that Bella would remove her bracelet, revealing her wounded ear and the burn on her shoulder. And Mary Alice would kiss them, silently letting Bella know that she loved every inch of her, every scar and blemish and imperfection.

Because Bella was her werecat. She was her bondmate.

"Did you find what you were lookin' for?" Mary Alice asked quietly.

The sunlight glinted off her sister's golden rose necklace.

A growl escaped Bella and she removed her hand from her hair. "It doesn't matter." In a swift movement, she reached out, ripping a few flowers from their roots and casting them aside. "It was stupid anyway." She reached out again, gripping the stems of the flowers but stopping when Mary Alice placed a hand on her arm.

"We ain't gotta talk about it. I don't wanna make you angry." She murmured, running her hand up and down her arm. "You get all angry, then you hurt other things." Bella released her grip on the flowers. "You can be angry, just don't take it out on the meadow."

The werecat swallowed thickly, looking away from Mary Alice and staring out at the field of purple and blue flowers. "Who gives a shit about some flowers." But she buried her fingers back in her black curls, gently scratching her scalp and making Mary Alice sigh in content.

"I do."

And they both knew that was more than enough reason for Bella to keep her temper in check.

"Whatever." She spoke softly, looking at the vampire's sparkling, dark brown skin.

Mary Alice gnawed on her lip, distressed by her werecat's rigid form and hollow eyes. "Maybe we can visit Alaska again?"

Bella shrugged. "Later, I guess." There was no enthusiasm in her voice. There was nothing. "Dad said we had to stay in Forks. A leshen was spotted in the forest, and he caught the scent of a doppelganger in town."

"I can check in town." She offered.

Her sister hated going into Forks. It was too loud, and the scents were overwhelming. She had to hide her tail. She felt too exposed, too watched, and it always put her on edge.

Their mother said Bella would have to learn to overcome her dislike for the city. Forks was growing larger by the day, with its dreary weather attracting vampires, and the outer forest attracting all manner of creatures who sought a home.

The shifters were unable to protect the humans in the city, not without revealing their existence. Mary Alice, Charles, and Bella were able to handle threats more discreetly.

But Forks was a large city, and it was difficult to cover so much ground with only three of them.

And if we're all gone, the shifters could get hurt by something else.

Grey eyes stared into the forest, and the werecat listened intently to the sounds of thundering paws heading in their direction.

"Sun's out today. We should go at nightfall." This made Mary Alice smile. Because, no matter how much Bella detested the city, she would follow Mary Alice to the ends of the earth in order to keep her safe.

I would do the same.

When Caleb appeared, silvery-white fur almost glittering in the sun, Bella's mood lightened ever so slightly.

Aya rode on his back, looking uneasy and mildly aggravated as she held the wolf's fur tightly in her fists.

"Damn. I almost envy witches. They ain't gotta ride around on giant animals."

Mary Alice was at Aya's side in an instant, helping her down and embracing her gently. "Hey, mama. What are you doin' all the way out here?"

Caleb shifted back, shaking out his long black hair as he shimmied into his shorts. "Auntie Alice, aunt Bella! I shifted in mid-air today. Got the drop on a vampire. Me and grandpa and Doris were able to kill her before she got to town."

Third vampire this week.

Bella gave the teen a half-hearted smile. "Nice job, kid." She glanced at Mary Alice. "Five bucks that Gene will rub his son's kill in Lucy's face." She paused before a snort escaped her. "Five more bucks that Amelia will rub her daughter's kill in Quil's face."

"Now, why would I be out here bettin' against that?"

Her visions were sporadic. Around the shifters, they were murky, some of them were unclear.

It was only when she was away from the reservation was she able to see clearly.

Bella shrugged, smiling slightly before she turned to Aya. "Mom, you didn't answer the question."

Their mother rolled her eyes before lightly smacking Caleb's shoulder. "The boy interrupted me. Wait 'til I tell your mama about your poor manners."

He ducked his head sheepishly. "Sorry, gran."

She feigned a look of annoyance before she rolled her eyes and gave his cheek a light pinch. "Go on now, baby. I need to speak to your aunts. Go give your daddy a hug for me. I'll come by later."

Caleb smiled broadly at her, giving her a big hug before embracing his aunts. "Mary Alice, Bella, will you both come over with gran?"

Mary Alice smiled, Caleb had Gene's eyes but Ruth's face. He was a good mix of the two, unlike Doris Ateara, who was the spitting image of Amelia.

"Yeah, we'll see you soon." She got on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Give Ruthie a hug for me." He beamed at her, bending over to kiss the top of her head before bursting into his wolf. In a burst of speed, he disappeared into the forest.

When he was out of earshot Mary Alice gave their mother a nod, and Aya smiled appreciatively at her before approaching Bella.

The werecat shrunk back slightly, almost looking afraid as she averted her gaze from Aya's. "So? did you find her?"

Her?

"No." Her tail lashed back and forth, and Mary Alice noticed the way her eyes tightened.

Oh. Her.

Bella clenched her jaw, still refusing to look at their mother. "She wasn't there. Neither were her parents. He wasn't either and..." a snarl escaped her and her body began to tremble. "Whatever. It doesn't matter. Not anymore."

"Baby–"

"She used me, mom." Mary Alice reached out, slipping her hand into Bella's. She felt her sister relax ever so slightly, and relief flooded her as soft grey eyes peered at her. "This...what we have here, this matters. Not her. Never her."

Mary Alice knew Rosalie Hale from stories and photographs.

It was Gene, Chilali, Ephraim, and their mother that spoke fondly of Rosalie. Levi seemed conflicted whenever he mentioned her. Their father held a bit of a grudge in regards to Rosalie, as did Lucy.

Bella had only spoken of her once in a drunken stupor.

A slip of the tongue.

"I just...it's been years. Years. And I–I just sit here. An–And I sit here, still, and wonder why she never loved me back."

That was all she had to say in order for Mary Alice to understand.

Because no one knew Bella better than she did.

And no one hates Rosalie as much as I do.

It was in quiet moments that she could more clearly see the way once vibrant grey eyes had dulled.

She couldn't remember her human life.

She couldn't remember New York or Mississippi or the swamp or the hospital.

But she knew that Bella's eyes had once been brighter.

They used to glow.

They used to glow, like storm clouds filled with lightning.

Now, they were weathered by longing and pain and wariness.

Now, they no longer glowed.

Instead, they were dim, like the sky just after rain.

Rosalie did this to her. Rosalie broke Bella's heart. And Mary Alice would never forgive her for that, no matter their past relationship.

"This matters." Mary Alice repeated, kissing the back of her sister's hand.

The quiet sigh of their mother made them look at her. "That girl loved you, Bella. She was just scared–"

"Stop making excuses for her!" Bella snapped, canines elongating. "She couldn't even write back to me, mom. She didn't want me!" Her tail stopped moving, instead, it wrapped around her ankle.

Aya pursed her lips, it was clear this wasn't the first time they had had this argument. "If you think lyin' to yourself is gonna make you feel better, fine." The werecat shot her a glare before looking away. "When are you gonna stop running away?"

Mary Alice frowned at their mother, unable to fight down her protectiveness. "Why you being so hard on her?"

Why would you defend that girl after what she did?

"Because someone has to wake her up, girl." Aya snapped before directing her glare towards the werecat. "Just like your daddy, holdin' grudges. Stubborn as all hell." A sigh escaped her and she shook her head. "Only hurtin' yourself. But I can't help people that don't wanna be helped."

Bella hissed at this, keeping her gaze lowered. "I don't need help. I've moved on–"

"That why you went back to Rochester to look for her?" The werecat said nothing, instead, she clenched her jaw and looked away from Aya. "I've lived many lives, girl. Been alive a long time. Been in love over and over again. Been heartbroken too."

"...I know."

"You know about Will, yes." Aya hesitated, brown eyes filling with tears as she spoke. "But, uh, I...I had two kids once. Twins. Things was gettin' bad in Haiti, so I took 'em to England." Mary Alice moved forward, gently wrapping her arms around their mother. "And when the vampires came...they was just babies. Ain't even fifteen when they was..."

Bella softened, uncrossing her arms and taking a step closer to them. "Mom–"

"I ran. Came here. Can't bring myself to go back." She blinked away her tears. "I failed them...got all the regrets in the world for runnin' away...I used anger to keep me from gettin' sad. But that didn't help nothing. Just made everything worse...but I can't go back, can I? Can't undo my cowardly actions. So, I love 'em for who they were when they was alive. That's all I can do."

The guilt was there, mirroring Bella's guilt when she had run away after Gene imprinted.

It had been hard on the immortals, watching their loved ones age right in front of their eyes.

Bella had fled to Alaska, of all places, and it was Mary Alice that had to bring her home. Bella almost stayed with the coven she met, and Mary Alice had been tempted to stay as well.

But they were needed in Washington. Their family was here.

And who knows how much longer we have left with them.

Mary Alice felt her eyes water, and she kissed her mother's temple. "I'm sorry, mama. That's terrible." She gnawed on her lip for a moment before saying, "I know it's not the same but...you got us. You got us forever."

Bella encircled both of them in a gentle hug. "That sounded threatening, Al."

The vampire bared her teeth playfully at her sister. "It was."

Aya laughed, rubbing her eyes as she nestled into their embrace. "I do, don't I? Forever."

They didn't bring up Rosalie again, because Aya knew when to push, but she also knew when to stop.

They didn't bring up Rosalie again, but Mary Alice knew Bella was thinking about her.

She could see it in the way Bella carried herself, shoulders slouched and head bent.

She could see it in the way Bella ran, fast and erratic, as though trying to outrun the memories she was plagued with.

And she could see it in the way Bella stared longingly at the moon.

Nights spent in Rosalie's bed.

Nights spent in Rosalie's arms.

And when Bella drifted off to sleep, curled into a ball, and nestling herself in Mary Alice's embrace, she knew that she was pretending it was Rosalie who was holding her.

She knew this because no one knew Bella better than she did.

And, as Bella cried out for the girl in her sleep, Mary Alice had to fight back a hiss.

No one knew Bella better than she did.

Just as no one hated Rosalie Hale more than she did.

---

Eleanor didn't remember much after she saw the bear.

She remembered that she had tried to run, and when it quickly caught up to her, she had tried to fight.

It had been too close for her to get a good aim at it. So she settled for swinging at the beast instead.

Her strength had always been impressive, but not so in the face of the massive black bear that had batted her aside with ease.

She remembered laying on the forest floor, blood oozing from her torso, and it was hard to breathe. She had pressed her thumb against her tiger ring, hoping it would give her strength, just as it always had.

But in that moment, it had been nothing but a comfort to her.

And the bear stood on two legs, roaring and about to come crashing down on her when…

My guardian angel.

Blonde hair. Gold eyes. Red lips.

Then there was burning.

It was as though her blood was on fire.

She could hear voices.

She could hear screaming.

Her voice was raw and broken because, evidently, she had been the one screaming.

And when the burning stopped, the pain ebbed away. All but the pain in her throat, that now burned with a dire thirst that was beyond agonizing.

Scents filled her nose, powerful to the point that they were nearly overwhelming. Roses, cinnamon, pine, all merged with other scents that were extremely sweet.

Where am I?

"She's awake." A man's voice said, tinged with a country accent. "She's confused, but not scared." He mused. "Thirsty."

I need something. Something other than water.

"I'll take her hunting." Another man's voice came from beside her. It was one that gave comfort, relief. It was soothing to her ears and made her relax ever so slightly.

Hunting? I'm a good shot. I can go by myself.

A woman's voice came from, what sounded like, a few rooms away. "I put away her clothes." She sounded doting, kind. "She's very tall and muscular. It was difficult to find women's clothes her size. I'm sure I can sew something together."

I've worn men's clothes most of my life.

"She doesn't mind." Another man said, voice quiet and reserved.

How does he know that? How many people are here?

He sounded amused, "She thinks you're her guardian angel, Rosalie."

Rosalie. Is that the angel who saved me?

"A shame I couldn't be her voice of reason." This voice was different from the other woman's. It was cold and biting. Sounding somewhat annoyed as she spoke. "I would have told her not to play with bears."

My angel is mean. I couldn't fire off a shot in time–

"Rosalie…"

Someone snickered and Eleanor heard an exasperated sigh. "Yes, yes. I'll be nice to the silly girl that plays in the forest."

"You played in the swamp." The southern voice returned.

"Never by myself. And I certainly never antagonized a bear."

Eleanor's eyes snapped open, the burn in her throat forgotten as she fixed her glare on her guardian angel. "I didn't antagonize it! I was just hunting for deer when that…" her jaw dropped at the sight of Rosalie.

She was the most beautiful woman Eleanor had ever seen, and she had been around plenty of beautiful women back at home.

Even when Rosalie sneered at her, a hand on her hip, teeth bared slightly, and brow furrowed, Eleanor was certain she had never seen anyone so gorgeous.

Golden hair, sharp facial features, full red lips, statuesque figure, striking gold eyes, not a blemish in sight.

Maybe she really is my guardian angel.

"You were hunting a deer near the bear's cubs, you dolt. Black bears don't attack humans unless they're given a reason to." She turned on her heel. "I'm not surprised some brute like you managed to aggravate those silly bears." Rosalie was gone in the blink of an eye, making Eleanor's own eyes widen in disbelief.

"...what the fuck?"

…

Vampires, as it turned out, couldn't get drunk.

But Eleanor tried.

And failed.

She stared into the mirror, red eyes tracing over her perfect features and her now silky smooth hair. She had once looked rugged, with many blemishes on her freckled cheeks, but it had all been smoothed away by the venom.

Her once disheveled, loose black curls were now pulled into a high ponytail, dropping down to just below the back of her neck.

Eleanor's skin was a pasty white, looking cleaner than it ever had. The calluses on her hands had vanished, just as all her other imperfections had. Even her scarred lip had healed completely.

No longer did she look rugged and disheveled, but neat and beautiful.

"Emmanuel would choke if he saw me now. I'm finally prettier than he is." She huffed out a laugh.

Her brother had inherited the pretty facial features of their mother, whereas Eleanor looked just like their father.

Even down to the broad shoulders and thick arms, while Emmanuel had a more slender frame and sinewy muscle.

Her younger brother had often complained about the unfairness of it all, and Eleanor would always jokingly agree.

She had told him it was because of her tiger ring.

Her ring of bravery and strength.

Her ring that had brought her comfort over the years.

The gold band was etched with diagonal red stripes.

The gift that had been given to her by her mother's distant friend.

The one that had stared at her with her mouth slightly agape and her grey eyes opened wide.

The woman who, after hearing from Eleanor's mother that she had visited on Eleanor's birthday, had taken off her ring and given it to the six year old.

"Happy birthday, Ellie. This ring is special. It gives you the strength and bravery of a tiger! It's real gold, so when you're older and brave all by yourself, you can sell it and buy something nice."

She had been in awe of the gift, putting it on her too-small finger and flexing her tiny muscles as she declared her own bravery.

It had made the woman laugh. "Remind me not to mess with you!"

Eleanor knew now that the ring didn't provide her with strength or bravery anything of the sort. But it was a comfort, a fond memory that she had of Bella, and she didn't want to part with it.

It was her lucky ring.

She wore it for years, and became the strongest in her family.

She didn't have the pretty facial features of her mother, but she had the "strength of a tiger" and that was more important to her.

"But now look at me, even prettier than Emmie." Eleanor smiled widely, nearly startled by the glowing white teeth that all but winked back at her. "I could get a husband with this smile…" though, men had never interested her.

Eleanor hadn't cared much about such things. All she had wanted was to take care of her family and spend her days drinking and gambling with her friends.

All I wanted was to have fun and flirt with pretty girls. How can I do that if I can't even get drunk?

The fleeting worry of providing for her family rose to the surface, but she quickly suppressed it.

I always figure something out.

And she was supposed to be the fun one. The one who kept her family laughing and smiling, even when they had days where they could barely make ends meet.

When I can control my thirst I'll go back to them.

She eyed the bottle of whisky that Carlisle had left on the dresser for her.

Her maker had warned her that her strength was overpowering, uncontrolled, just as all newborns were. And he offered to help her drink the whisky, despite it having zero effects, but Eleanor had asked to be alone.

Because, as much as she adored Carlisle, she was tired of feeling so helpless.

Eleanor had wanted to travel, get away from New York for a while. She picked up a few odd jobs here and there as she did so, sending most of it back home to her mother so that she could still contribute to keeping their small house.

Emmanuel worked the railroad with their father, and on occasion, Eleanor would be able to join them. Her strength had surprised the men, even intimidated them, but once she had shown that she was useful and could hold her own they became more welcoming.

If she wasn't working on the tracks she would be out hunting, putting food on the table and selling the animal skins.

She had gotten so caught up in her own thoughts that she all but flinched when there was a light knock on the door.

"Come in, angel."

The door opened to reveal a displeased-looking Rosalie. "Stop calling me that." Her arms were crossed over her chest, and gold eyes searched her face for a moment. "Eleanor…what's your last name?"

The burly vampire crossed her arms over her chest and gave her a teasing smile. "Oh, so now you're interested? Come on, angel, I've been here for a few days now." Rosalie stared at her, unamused. "Why the cold shoulder?" Eleanor laughed, "Get it? Because of your ice–"

"What's your last name?" She repeated dryly, making Eleanor sigh and throw her hands up in exasperation.

"Are all of you so serious?" She complained. "Eddie came by the other day and told me about his mind-reading thing. Said he struggled controlling it and promised he would try to give me my privacy. I told him not to worry about it, ya know? I'm an open book. I don't care what he sees. And when I said that he just looked at me funny and left. Then Jasper shows up and starts interrogating me. And you, you saved my life and then ignore me when I woke up. And you're always so cranky. What's that all about?"

Rosalie seemed annoyed by the question, and instead of answering, she left the room.

…

"You'll have to forgive my children," Carlisle murmured, helping his mate get Eleanor into new clothes. She kept destroying her garments, still unable to fully control her strength. "They're a bit overprotective. And it takes them a while to warm up to strangers."

Esme laughed quietly at that. "You should have seen the way Rosalie and Edward treated Jasper. They're both so suspicious and…" she shook her head. "They're both a handful themselves."

Eleanor shrugged, stepping into the pants Esme held out for her. "I get it. I just wish they were more fun." She complained. "Edward can read minds, Jasper can control emotions, and Rosalie can control ice…but they don't do anything cool with their powers. It's boring."

She had attempted drinking, only to destroy the bottle the second she touched it, drenching herself in alcohol. But as Esme buttoned Eleanor's pants, she couldn't find it in her to be embarrassed.

I love my strength. I love being a vampire. I just wish I could dress myself.

Carlisle sighed, standing a few inches taller than Eleanor and tucking a stray black lock behind her ear. It was a doting gesture, one she appreciated.

Her maker wasn't very affectionate. His words were gentle and soothing and reassuring, but he was not at all touchy.

Eleanor, on the other hand, was a very physically affectionate person.

Hugs, handholds, high-fives, pats on the back.

Touch was important to her.

Skin on skin contact, no matter how brief, was a comfort to her. A show of kinship. A bond.

The men she had worked with, those she now called friends, showed gratitude and affection through touch. Whether it be a teasing punch to the arm or a pat on the shoulder.

The physical labor was hard on their bodies. Hard on their lungs. Ragged breathing and exhaustion made talking a chore. And with shaky limbs and tired smiles, they would grip their companion's sweaty shoulders, give a squeeze, their hands speaking when their mouths could not, and wobble down the rail to finish their work.

Touch was important, and Carlisle was trying.

And thankfully, Esme's a hugger.

Though, the first time she had hugged the older woman, Rosalie looked as though she were going to tear her throat out.

Because of course, Rosalie was possessive of her maker. And because of that, the hugs were far and few between whenever her grumpy savior was around.

"Their gifts can be burdens." Carlisle brightened ever so slightly. "But they're fascinating, aren't they?" He looked at Eleanor with a smile. "Just as your strength, even for a newborn, is incredible."

Eleanor smiled cockily at that, putting up a bicep and flexing it. "I've always been strong. When I helped on the railroads, the men didn't see me as a woman, they saw me as their equal."

Esme beamed up at her. "I bet you have many interesting stories. I'd love to hear them some time, if you're willing to share."

"Of course!" She boomed, more than excited to boast to a pretty lady about her adventures.

But Esme was the mate of her maker, and she would always respect that.

And she's too motherly to think of in any other way.

Esme reminded Eleanor of her own mother, with her gentle touches and quiet laughs and warm smiles.

Speaking of…

"When will I get to go home? My family misses me, and I need to work so they can…" she trailed off when she saw the wary glances that Carlisle and Esme exchanged. "What? I won't expose our secret. And I know I need to stay with our coven. But I need to make them a bit more money and say goodbye–"

Her maker gently placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her instantly. "You can't go near your family, Eleanor. At least, not for a while. Your desire for human blood is too strong. It would get them killed."

She stared at him incredulously, shaking his hand off her shoulder and stepping back. "I wouldn't…I would never hurt them. I love them!"

Emmanuel was her best friend, and she loved her father dearly.

But her mother…there was no one she loved more than she loved her mother.

"It doesn't matter to me if you run around with the boys and lift heavy things. You're still my baby girl, and I know you'll grow into a beautiful woman."

Her father and Emmanuel had, at times, made her feel like a boar. They made her feel freakish and uncomfortable, as did their coworkers when she had first joined.

Most of their comments hadn't been intentional in making her upset, but for a long time in her adolescents, she had secretly hated her body.

But my mother, she made me love my height and my muscles and my rough hands. She taught me how to love myself. I can't just leave her. I have to see her. I wouldn't hurt a hair on her head. I wouldn't.

Esme stepped forward, voice gentle and eyes soft. "You won't want to hurt them. But the bloodlust is overwhelming in your newborn stage. It takes years to learn how to control it–"

"Years? I don't have years! My parents could be dead in years!" Her eyes watered. "If they don't hear from me…what if they think I'm dead? What if they think I abandoned them? How are they going to be able to keep their apartment?"

Carlisle winced, reaching out to her and sighing when she stepped away. "We have more than enough money that we can send them. We'll provide for them monthly, and you can write to them…"

"They just can't write back," Eleanor growled, looking away from him and clenching her jaw. "That's bullshit, Carlisle. I want to see them. At least one last time."

"I understand." He assured her, and she didn't move away this time as he placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "So we'll practice your self-control. Give it time, Eleanor. And…try to take comfort in knowing that your family will still be provided for."

She smiled thinly at that, defeat seeping into her bones and drowning out her anger.

"So, I won't be able to wrestle with my brother or drink with my father or hug my mother." Silence. "I won't be able to do any of these things ever again." She swallowed thickly, unable to stomach the empathetic looks that Carlisle and Esme were giving her. "But I'll still be able to provide for them, with money that isn't my own. And I'll still be able to send them letters but never receive a response." Her eyes watered again and she curled her hands into fists as a hollow laugh escaped her. "Yeah…yeah, I'll take comfort in that."

…

Tearing up the forest was easy.

Ripping trees from their roots. Smashing branches into splinters. Crushing large rocks into powder. Kicking logs so far they were no longer visible.

Tearing up the forest was easy.

But it didn't make her feel better.

With a burning throat and eyes filled with tears, she continued destroying everything that was around her. Snarling and cursing and lashing out at the forestry.

I can't drink. I can't eat. I can't smoke. I can't see Emmanuel or my mother or my father or–

A wave of calm swept over her, making her freeze abruptly and stand up straight.

"What the hell–"

"Your emotions are very loud." Jasper's voice made her flinch in surprise, having been too caught up in her anger and anguish to hear or smell him coming. "I was going to leave you alone but…figured I could see if you wanted to…talk."

Eleanor bared her teeth at the vampire, warily eyeing the myriad of bite marks that were along his arms. "Talk? Like when you were interrogating me? Asking where I was from and who I was? That kind of talk?"

The empath sighed, rolling down his sleeves, covering his many scars, and stopping so he was a few feet away from Eleanor. "I just…I want to keep my family safe." He was quiet for a moment, observing Eleanor with his bright gold eyes. "I used to train newborns, you know. So I know a potential threat when I see one. I just had to be cautious."

She hated that.

But, try as she might, Eleanor couldn't feel her previous anger. Only mild irritation. "Yeah, I'm real scary, aren't I? A terrifying, large woman that could crush you in seconds. I don't know how you can stand to talk to me." She sneered, turning away from him. "Surprised you aren't shaking in your little cowboy boots."

Jasper was quiet for a moment before saying, "Well, you're strong and muscular, but you're not that big, darlin'. And I think I'm scarier than you by a mile. I've trained scarier than you, too."

Eleanor's irritation died down ever so slightly since the blonde didn't seem to mean any harm by his previous comment. "Why'd you train them? What for?"

"War."

"War?"

Jasper nodded. "I'm a Union boy. I was a Major, and a few vampires took an interest. Next thing I know I'm fighting in vampire wars. Not the war I really cared to fight for."

Eleanor's eyebrows raised as she looked the soldier over. "Is that why you have all those bites on your arms."

"Sure is." He drawled out, before gesturing at the destruction Eleanor had created. "Enough about me. What's got you all angry?" His brow furrowed slightly, revealing his concern, and she couldn't help but sigh and shrug her broad shoulders.

"Just…newborn anger, I guess."

"Liar." Jasper wore a teasing smile. "But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. We haven't known each other long."

Right, he's an…empathy person?

Eleanor eyed him for a moment before asking, "Were you upset?" Jasper raised a brow and she blinked. "Oh, um, when you were turned? Did you get to say goodbye to your family?"

The soldier shook his head. "No. I didn't risk going near my parents after I was turned. After the Civil War ended, they'd just assumed I died." He crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. "It was sad. I miss my ma and pa every day. But…when you find a new family…most days, it doesn't hurt so bad."

"What, so I'm just supposed to replace them?"

"No," Jasper said simply. "You could never replace them. You just…open your heart to new people. Spare some room to love others as you would like to be loved, as Esme says." He smiled, wide and full of something Eleanor couldn't quite decipher. "I'm an empath, and yet, I've never met anyone as warm as her."

The newborn looked at him thoughtfully, sitting down on the forest floor with a heavy sigh and hugging her knees to her chest. "She's nice."

"She is." Jasper sat next to her.

"So is Carlisle. So are you." She rested her chin on her knee. "Edward seems nice but he's…distant. He's usually with Rosalie. And she's mean." Though, that didn't really bother her. She would rather Rosalie dislike her than be afraid of her.

Which is surprising, because she's so dainty and I'm huge.

This earned her a quiet chuckle. "She can be. It just takes her a while to warm up to strangers."

Eleanor grinned. "I see what you did there."

Jasper frowned at her. "What did I do?"

"You're good, Jas. I'll give you that."

"I really don't know what I–"

"Welp!" Eleanor jumped to her feet, and her grin broadened as Jasper did the same. "Thanks for the talk, but I'm tired of moping." Her feelings weren't dealt with in the slightest, but she didn't have time to focus on that now. "You said you were scarier than me, but my muscles are bigger than yours–"

"Barely–"

"And I know I can kick your ass in a fight." Eleanor boasted. "Carlisle says I'm one of the strongest vampires he's ever seen."

The soldier smirked at her. "You could be the strongest vampire alive, and you still wouldn't beat me in a fight, darlin'."

Her eyes widened and a surprised laugh escaped her. "Oh yeah? I bet you fifty bucks that I can beat you in a fight, right here, right now."

Jasper's smirk broadened. "Deal."

Vampires couldn't get drunk.

But Eleanor learned that they could still gambol.

And even though she lost two hundred dollars and didn't gain a penny in return, she and Jasper returned to the house with laughter in their mouths and joy in their eyes.

…

"You're thinking about wanting a pet…tiger?"

Eleanor gasped in delight, clapping her hands as she beamed at the mind-reader. "Woah! I really was!" His power fascinated her. It was amazing, and she appreciated that Edward indulged her curiosity.

Because Rosalie never did.

Edward's smile was small and tinged with amusement. "Why a pet tiger?"

She frowned and tapped her temple, leaning forward on the couch. "Ah ah ah! Read!" He rolled his eyes, brow furrowing for a moment before an amused huff escaped him.

"Because they're huge, strong, and…" he shook his head. "They're wild animals, Eleanor, not giant kittens."

The newborn narrowed her eyes. "All cats are the same, Ed. They're just different sizes."

"I don't think that's right–"

"I had a few stray cats I would take care of as a kid," Eleanor said. "Okay, what am I thinking right now?"

Edward's gold eyes roved over her face for a moment before his small smile returned. "You learned the hard way that cats aren't like dogs. They need to come to you. Before you knew that, you would chase them because you wanted to give them hugs, but they would always scratch you."

Eleanor laughed and nodded. "My mom got tired of patching me up, and she taught me how to get the cats to like me, since I could never seem to figure it out. I meowed at them and everything, but they weren't fooled."

"No," Edward chuckled, "I imagine they wouldn't be."

Carlisle and Jasper were at work while Esme and Rosalie were out painting, leaving Edward to babysit the newborn.

Even though I've been here for three months now.

But, to stifle her complaints, Edward entertained her, and she appreciated that.

"Thanks for playing with me." Eleanor smiled. "Your power is so cool, I wish I could read minds." She then leaned forward, tapping his forehead gently with her index finger. "Think you can read Rosalie's mind? Find out what I can do to get on her good side?"

Edward grimaced, leaning away from her touch and shaking his head. "That's an invasion of her privacy, Eleanor."

Of course, you're no fun.

"Reading private thoughts isn't some form of entertainment." He lectured, making her roll her eyes. "My gift is difficult to control, but I'm always very careful to avoid Rosalie's mind, because she asked that of me, and I want to respect her boundaries."

Eleanor laughed and flopped back onto the couch. "What private thoughts could she have? She was a rich kid that became a vampire. She isn't any fun, so what could she be hiding?"

"Don't be rude." He scolded. "You hardly know her. And if you'd like to get to know her, then ask her yourself." Edward groused, making the younger vampire wince.

"Hey, sorry, Ed. I was just messing around."

"It's fine, Eleanor. But you really should put yourself in other people's shoes before you say such things."

"That's Jasper's gift. The emotional stuff–"

"Not everything has to be a joke."

But that was the only way I could…

"Cope." Eleanor glared at him and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Not so fun, is it?"

Dick.

She shrugged her shoulders, glaring at the ground. "...no. I guess you're right. I shouldn't have asked you to do that."

The two sat in silence for a moment before Edward broke it. "I…I appreciate that you like my gift." Eleanor looked up at him in surprise. "Many people think it's a nuisance, and I tend to agree. But you…you make it…fun."

A large grin spread across her lips and she stood to her feet. "I do? You have fun with me?"

"Yes." His small smile made another appearance, making him look quite pretty for a boy. "You make me enjoy my gift, so, thank you, Eleanor–" he grunted in surprise when she crushed him in a hug.

"You don't have to thank me, Ed." She gave him one more squeeze, before putting him down. "You said your gift is hard to control…well, when it is, you can just stay in my mind if you want. Hopefully, that makes it easier for you."

Gold eyes softened, filled with appreciation and relief. "That would be…nice. Thank you."

When everyone came home the game continued, and even Rosalie sat down to watch.

She wore a look of annoyance, but Eleanor suspected that she didn't like displaying positive emotions.

Edward went around reading their minds and would say a quote out loud, then they would all have to guess who was thinking it.

It was a game that Eleanor invented. It was a game that the family loved to play.

Edward closed his eyes, careful not to give away which mind he was reading, before he said, "I'm so happy everyone's enjoying themselves–"

"Mom," Rosalie said without hesitation, surprising everyone that she even participated. "What? I was right, wasn't I?" She grumbled, earning her a nod from Edward and a quiet laugh from Esme.

"Excellent job, Rose!"

A small smile crept on her lips as she looked at her maker, but it quickly faded as she rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders. "It's an easy game."

Eleanor couldn't help but point out, "One you enjoy playing."

"Don't be ridiculous. It was either partake in this silly little game you created or re-read the many books in the library."

But they all knew she was secretly enjoying herself.

Edward closed his eyes again. "I miss days in the hot Missouri sun, riding down the trail on my horse and–"

"Jasper!" Eleanor guessed, only to be surprised when Esme turned to her mate.

"Hm. I think it's Carlisle."

The doctor smiled at her impishly. "Rose said the game was too easy, so I was attempting to make it more challenging."

The empath scowled playfully at his father. "I don't sound like that."

"Yes, you do," Rosalie said, earning her a laugh from Edward and a grin from Carlisle.

"Just a little, son. I was exaggerating."

"Not by much."

"Rose." Esme laughed, watching fondly as Jasper tossed a pillow at his sister, who caught it and smirked at him in return. "Be nice."

"This is her being nice." Edward teased, chuckling as a pillow bounced off his head. "Okay okay." He closed his eyes again. "I'm the only perfect person in this family. Everyone else is idiotic and–"

"Obviously this isn't Rose," Jasper said, amusement dancing in gold eyes as he glanced at Eleanor. "It's Eleanor."

Carlisle hummed and glanced at his wife. "Eleanor seems like an obvious pick, so I'll choose Esme."

She looked somewhat appalled by that and crossed her arms over her chest. "I would never. I think it's you."

"Trying to deflect. Smart. But it won't save you."

"Save me from what?"

"My correct judgment." The two began laughing quietly, and Eleanor couldn't help but smile as she turned to Rosalie.

"That was definitely Rosalie. She's just trying to throw us off by making it obvious."

The blonde narrowed her eyes. "It was either you or Jasper. But you both lack self-preservation." She looked at her brother. "It's probably Jasper. He didn't like that I pointed out how much of a typical country boy he is."

Jasper rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged on his lips. "Alright, swamp girl."

Swamp girl?

Eleanor knew that Rosalie grew up wealthy in the city of Rochester. But it was always strange to think about how someone like her would actively go into the swamps to play.

Rosalie scoffed at that. "Don't make me add another scar, you country bumpkin."

It was strange to see Rosalie like this. Joking with her siblings and relaxed to the point that she was leaning against Esme's shoulder.

She was always so tense, so rigid, and prickly.

It's a nice change.

Eleanor couldn't help but feel somewhat proud that her game had coaxed Rosalie out of her tough shell.

"I'd like to see you try, city slicker."

Esme drew everyone's attention by asking, "Okay, Edward, who's thought was it?"

Edward smiled and gestured at Eleanor. "Rose's favorite class clown."

"I knew it!" Jasper exclaimed.

Esme turned to Carlisle. "I think you owe me an apology."

"As soon as you give me one, dear."

The two bickered playfully with one another and Rosalie turned to Eleanor with a glare.

"I bet you feel proud of yourself."

And Eleanor grinned, wide and full of joy. "I do. I really had you fooled!"

Gold eyes widened in surprise, and a spark of recognition danced in her eyes as she stared at Eleanor in slight shock.

Abruptly, Rosalie stood to her feet. "I'm done." And she left without another word.

Esme winced. "I'll go check on her." She dashed out of the house and after Rosalie.

Shit. What did I do now?

"Nothing," Edward answered, looking worriedly after his sister.

Carlisle was next to her in seconds, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and giving it a light squeeze. "Rosalie is…complicated, to say the least. But don't worry, Esme knows how to calm our daughter better than anyone."

The comfort of her maker made her relax, and she let out a heavy sigh before nodding. "Sorry I ruined the game. We were all joking around and…"

"You didn't ruin the game," Jasper said. "Sometimes, Rose gets a little overwhelmed. And when she does, she needs space."

They were silent for a moment before Carlisle planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Tonight was fun. Thank you for coming up with something that is so entertaining. We should play again tomorrow if you're up for it."

Eleanor's mood lifted almost instantly, and she beamed up at her maker. "Yeah, I'm always up for kicking your asses!"

Jasper crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, please. I got more right than you did."

"If I could play, I would beat everyone," Edward grumbled, earning him an incredulous look from Eleanor.

"You mean you'd cheat!"

"...I'd still win."

"It's not winning if you cheat to beat everyone else." Jasper pointed out, unable to hold back his smile as Edward scoffed at him.

"Well…even if I couldn't read minds, I would still win."

"No, you wouldn't!"

Carlisle laughed quietly as his sons argued, and he looked at Eleanor with a smile so warm she could have mistaken it for the sun. "I'm so glad you're with us, Eleanor. You've reminded us what it means to have fun again. And we love you for it."

Her eyes filled with tears, and in seconds she was on her feet and crushing her maker in a hug. "I–I love you too!" She all but sobbed, holding him close and crying into his shoulder.

Her hug was hurting him, it had to be, but he made no complaints as he gently hugged her back.

…

"Woahhh! You work on automobiles!" Eleanor gushed, watching earnestly as Rosalie popped open the hood. "Is that a Cadillac?"

It had been two weeks since Rosalie walked out on, what they now called, family game night.

She had sat with them since then, rarely would she participate, but Eleanor knew that she was secretly enjoying herself.

The blonde eyed the newborn, wiping the grease from her hands onto her handkerchief before shoving it back in the pocket of her overalls.

"It is."

"My dad always wanted one of these–" she reached out to touch the car when a thick wall of ice shot up from the ground.

"Don't touch it, you brute," Rosalie warned. "You could crush it if you're not careful." Eleanor watched with wide eyes as the wall of ice slowly melted to the floor. "This is a gift. One I'll not have you ruin with your idiocy."

Eleanor laughed, unbothered by Rosalie's insults, and chanced a step closer to her. "I won't mess it up. I promise."

"Whatever."

Silence fell over the garage, and she couldn't help but ask, "Who's it for? What are you doing to it?"

She was ignored, but she didn't mind.

Rosalie was busy, so Eleanor sat on the floor and watched her work.

But she didn't remain silent.

"Rose, how come you don't like me?"

She didn't look up from her work. "Who told you I didn't like you."

"No one, but–"

"Did I explicitly say I didn't like you?"

"No, but you–"

"There you have it. I don't dislike you." She said, giving Eleanor a displeased look. "Are we finished here?"

The newborn sighed, fiddling with the hem of her shirt for a moment before saying, "What can I do to make you like me?"

"You can't make me do anything."

Eleanor had hit a sore spot, but she didn't know how, and she was quick to apologize. "Sorry! I didn't mean it like that I just meant…" it appeared Rosalie had stopped listening. "Rose."

Gold eyes glanced at her, and with an annoyed huff, the vampire slammed the hood of the car shut. "What is it, Eleanor?" She asked, but the question was clearly rhetorical. "Are you not getting enough attention from Carlisle? Is Jasper too busy to rough house with you? Does Edward not feel like playing the mind games you like so much? Is Esme hunting?" She fired off the questions rapidly. "I don't dislike you. I dislike my time being wasted. So, enough small talk. Tell me why you're really down here."

Rosalie didn't sound mad. Mildly irritated, but she hadn't kicked her out yet, and Eleanor took that as a good sign. Though, Rosalie's bluntness somewhat startled her.

Eleanor cleared her throat, looking away from her savior as she spoke. "I…I guess I was still curious about why you saved me."

And I want us to be friends.

She had once had a crush on Rosalie, though Eleanor had known it could never work out between the two of them.

Her savior could hardly tolerate her presence, and it was Jasper who had warned Eleanor against pursuing the blonde.

He hadn't gone into details about why, but he was an empath, and Eleanor assumed it meant that Rosalie's feelings belonged to someone else.

Rosalie pursed her lips before turning back to the automobile. "Because your mother wouldn't have forgiven me if I hadn't." She popped the hood once again, inspecting it thoroughly and ignoring Eleanor's wide-eyed stare. "Against my better judgment, I saved you." She picked up her wrench and got to work. "Being a vampire is…wanting. But all Vera ever wanted was for you to live a long and happy life. And I figured, after all those years, it was the least I could do."

"Wait…you know my mom?"

Rosalie glanced at her. "I haven't seen you since you were five, so I wasn't sure if it was you. But I didn't want to risk letting you die. Asking your last name was just a formality. I knew from the moment you opened your eyes that you were Vera and Timothy's daughter." She began working on the engine. "It's nice to see you again. I would apologize for not being more welcoming, but, unfortunately, you have your father's sense of humor. So I won't."

Eleanor was on her feet in seconds, standing over Rosalie and putting her hands on her shoulders to draw her attention.

"How do you know my parents? Why didn't you say something sooner? Who were you to them–" ice appeared on Rosalie's shoulders, burning Eleanor and making her jump back with a hiss.

The vampire blinked in surprise, and the ice melted back into her skin. "I'm sorry, you just…" for the first time ever, Rosalie sounded flustered. "You can't grab me. I don't like that."

Whenever one of the Cullens was going to touch Rosalie, their movements were slowed slightly and they made sure Rosalie was aware of their intentions. It was something Eleanor had noticed but never paid any mind to.

Did something happen? Something that made her scared?

But Eleanor didn't ask, trying to ignore the shame she felt at having scared Rosalie.

Instead, she only nodded. "Sorry. I wasn't trying to be aggressive."

The blonde straightened her posture. "It's…fine. Thank you." She set aside her grey wrench, stopping for a moment to stare at it.

There was a strange look in her eye as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her stance didn't exude the same indifference that it normally did. Instead, it looked as though she had found a less obvious way to hold herself.

Rosalie would always get particularly quiet whenever grey storm clouds would roll in. She would take a moment and stare up at the sky, brow furrowed and that same look in her eye.

Eleanor wondered what it meant. She wondered if it was the weather that brought up memories, or the color grey itself.

That look in her eye…Eleanor's mother would sometimes get the same look in hers.

"Oh, it's nothing, Ellie. Sometimes I just miss people."

Two of her friends were no longer in her life.

One had moved away.

Bella.

But she still wrote her mother letters and sent the occasional photo.

"She visited you once. I don't know how well you remember, but she had visited on your sixth birthday party. She gave you that ring you love so much."

Eleanor did remember her.

How could she forget?

Though the memories were a bit foggy and disjointed, they were still there.

She remembered grey eyes and brown hair and a big smile. She remembered riding on Bella's back and being taught how to climb a tree.

And she remembered hugging her goodbye and asking when she'd be back.

"I don't know, Ellie. Maybe you'll come visit me next time."

But she never did, and her poor mother had never heard the end of it from Eleanor, who always asked when Bella would be back until she was about eight years old.

Bella hadn't visited them since, and her mother had soon begun missing her again.

And when Bella wrote Eleanor a letter, a short one that was next to her mother's longer one, Eleanor had kept it in her sock drawer ever since.

Her mother's other friend had passed away a little after Eleanor had been born.

"Rose was your godmother. When you were born she spoiled you with outfits and toys and she always came over to babysit and...I'm sorry, I can't talk about this now." Her mother had smiled then, but it was a sorrowful one that filled her eyes with tears. "But just know that she loved you very much."

She had died in an automobile accident, and her mother hadn't spoken of her often. Eleanor knew it hurt too much to bring up.

Rose. Rosalie?

"Are you my…godmother?" She asked hesitantly, watching as Rosalie's eyes lit up ever so slightly.

"Vera told you about me? That's nice." The older vampire murmured. "I knew my death would hurt her. But I couldn't risk telling her or anyone else the truth." A soft sigh escaped her and she turned back to the car. "I miss her. She was a good friend to me and…" she trailed off and shook her head. "Now you know why I saved you. I couldn't let my goddaughter die. There. Satisfied?"

No.

She had a million more questions, but Rosalie didn't like being pushed. And Esme had warned her about going slow with the blonde.

My godmother is my guardian angel.

There was so much Eleanor wanted to say. So much she wanted to ask. But it was clear that Rosalie was done discussing it.

So, she sat back down, watching silently as Rosalie worked on the engine.

"Thank you." She murmured, garnering a look from her godmother.

Rosalie pulled her hand away from the car, hesitating for a moment before leaning over and gently patting the top of Eleanor's head.

The newborn regarded her with wide eyes, but Rosalie said nothing as she turned back to the automobile.

The touch was brief, but it said everything that Rosalie couldn't.

I'm glad you're here.

---

Levi was the first to die.

He had stopped shifting after finding his imprint and training his children, and when he got leukemia there was nothing he could do to fight it.

All Bella had wanted to do was run away.

But it was Shaman Dyami that convinced her to stay.

One of his gifts was his ability to guide souls to the Beyond, a journey he promised Bella could join if she stayed.

"Your nephews and nieces need you. So do your siblings. Besides, don't you wish to say goodbye to your brother?"

And she did.

With Shaman Dyami, she walked Levi to the door of the Beyond. A brilliant white light that was in-between an archway.

"I wish our mother and father had come with us. But I understand, I wouldn't want to walk them to the door." Her brother had said. "I don't know how you're able to do this. But I'm so glad you're here with me." Before he walked through the door Bella hugged him for what felt like an eternity. "Believe me, I wish I could have stayed longer. Don't miss me too much, okay? Life goes on, and so will you."

She didn't know how he expected her to go on without him. But he was so certain that she would find a way.

Levi had always overestimated Bella.

He had always seen the best in her, even when she had scarred his face, like the animal she was.

And yet, even then he had always been so certain of her strength.

But when he passed, she had had none.

She had been pitiful, falling to her knees and holding onto his hand, begging him to stay.

"I'm...I'm so tired, Bella. I have to go." She had felt selfish but was unable to release his hand. "I love you. I'll always be with you, you know that. Now, you have to love me enough to let me go."

So she did, and she earned a beautiful smile from her brother.

"See? So strong! You always have been!"

Bella wanted to run away.

But she couldn't.

Shaman Dyami was right. Her family needed her. No matter how much she wanted to run away, she knew that she couldn't.

Levi has always thought I was strong. For him, I'll try.

Levi was the first to die.

A month after, Gene was the second.

Gene had been suffering from dementia, something he had gotten shortly after the death of his imprint, Ruth. He had grown too old to live alone and lived with his son, Caleb.

He was the grandfather of Dakota Lahote, a fiery little girl that shared so much of his likeness, Bella had fallen in love with her instantly.

Watching her siblings grow old was agonizing. They had once been so youthful and strong, but age had robbed them of their vitality.

But nothing was as difficult as watching Gene slip away.

His confusion, his questions, his uncertainty.

He couldn't recognize many of those in his life, he frequently mistook his son for his brother, Levi. He talked about Ruth constantly, often forgetting she was dead, and sometimes wandering out of Caleb's house late in the night to go find her.

Seeing him like that was awful.

And when Shaman Dyami and Aya roused Bella from her sleep, both with tears in their eyes, she knew.

"It's time," Aya murmured, taking Bella's hand in hers.

When they arrived at the house, Caleb was already there, standing at his father's bedside with tears in his eyes.

Bella swallowed back her grief, embracing her nephew tightly and blinking back tears.

"I'm sorry."

Aya and Shaman Dyami took their hands and closed their eyes.

The world around them was beautiful. A swamp that bore weeping willow trees with white leaves. The path before them was made of colorful poppies, and to the side of it was Aya's old house, sitting just in front of the crystal clear waters of the swamp.

Wolves and bobcats ran through the swamp, carefree and happy.

And just ahead of them was the brilliant white light that was in between an archway of vines that bloomed with forget-me-nots.

"Wow, would you look at that?" Gene looked around, scratching at his balding head and smiling at Bella. "Bells! It's finally summer again!"

Fighting back her tears she took his weathered hand in hers. "It is."

She glanced at Caleb, who was barely holding it together as he took Gene's other hand in his.

He looked at his son with hazy brown eyes. "Oh, Levi! You're here!" He grinned at him as they began to walk forward. "You know, we should really bring Ruthie. She can meet Bob and Mary Alice and..." his brow furrowed before he perked up. "Rose! She can meet Rose too, wouldn't that be nice?" He looked at Bella, who gave him a watery smile.

"That would be great."

Gene nodded, continuing to walk on slightly shaky legs. "It would be." A huff escaped him and he turned to Caleb. "Where's everyone else?"

Caleb's eyes tightened and he looked away from him. "You know how Eph is, really busy. And Chi and Lucy–"

"Are always fucking late." Gene rolled his eyes before he paused. "Whoops, don't tell Aya I cursed." He laughed, and Bella managed to let out a quiet chuckle.

"I'm telling."

"You tell her that and I'll tell her about that vial you broke!"

She swallowed thickly, forcing herself to look away from him. "Fine! I'll keep your potty mouth to myself."

Gene released her hand and ruffled her hair. "You're a good kid when I have blackmail." He turned to Caleb. "You don't say anything either, or I'll kick your ass." He said playfully.

Caleb smiled, giving Gene's hand a gentle squeeze as tears streamed down his cheeks. "It'll be our secret, Gene. I promise."

They neared the door.

"You're a great brother, you know that? You always take really good care of me." He then looked at Bella. "And you, well, you're a little shit but I love you so much."

They stopped right at the door.

Bella choked back a sob and embraced her brother gently. "You're an asshole...but I love you too. So much."

Gene laughed and hugged her back, kissing her hair and resting his head on her shoulder. "It's why we've always gotten along so well. You're an asshole too." He released her. "Next summer we'll bring Ruthie, okay?" He turned and looked at the swamp with teary eyes and a wide smile. "Oh...look at these trees. They're so beautiful...wow...she'll love seeing them." He sighed happily. "It's so nice here...why do we ever leave?"

Caleb rubbed his eyes. "There's always next summer, Gene."

"I know but...I wish we never had to leave." His father turned to him with a smile. "But next summer..." he trailed off, blinking at him in confusion. "Oh...you're not Levi...Caleb?" He squinted at him. "I'm sorry, I've been pretty forgetful lately." Gene looked troubled for a moment before a laugh escaped him. "Caleb! My boy!" He embraced him tightly, patting his back and smiling at him as though he were his world. "You've gotten tall! But don't grow up, okay? It's bullshit."

His son let out a quiet sob as he nodded. "Okay. I won't."

Gene laughed and ruffled his hair. "You're a good boy. I love you." His brow furrowed. "You know who you remind me of...oh! Levi! You're back! Have you seen Caleb? I swear that boy is always running off."

Caleb looked close to breaking down, but he held firm as he pointed towards the white light. "He went that way."

Gene looked to where he was pointing and rolled his eyes. "My son is going be the death of me. No more after this, I'm exhausted." He glanced at Bella. "You're babysitting your nephew tomorrow, kid. Ruthie and I need a break."

"I'm not a kid anymore, you ass." She complained, swallowing thickly as Gene laughed.

"No matter how big you get, you'll always be that ten year old kid I grew to love." He gave her cheek a light pinch before asking, "But you'll look after Caleb for us, right? His mother and I are exhausted."

Bella nodded, unable to hide the tremor in her voice. "You both deserve to rest." She took Caleb's hand in hers. "Don't worry, I'll take great care of him."

This made her brother smile widely at her. "I know you will." He turned to walk through the door when Caleb called after him.

"I love you!"

Gene turned around and gave him a wave. "I love you too, son. When you see your mother, tell her about the swamp, won't you? I know she'll be excited to come with us next year." He began walking through the door when he paused. "You...you be a good boy for your aunt, okay?"

Caleb squeezed Bella's hand, choking back a sob as he used his free hand to wipe his eyes. "I will. I promise."

"Good." Gene turned away from them and walked through the door, engulfed by the blinding white light. "Oh...Levi? And you found Bob! That's great but...have you always looked that young?"

The door shut behind him, leaving Caleb and Bella to stare at where Gene had once stood.

"It's...it's over." Caleb breathed, allowing the tears to fall. "He remembered me."

Bella swallowed thickly, trying to remain strong for her nephew as she nodded. "He did." The world around them began to fade away. "Let's...let's go home, kid."

The grief that came with Levi's passing had been unbearable, just as the grief that came with Gene's.

But, in a way, it was a relief to see Gene go.

No longer would they have to watch him walk around, lost and trapped in the past. No longer would they have to hear his complaints about his aching joints, or rush to take him back into the house when he wandered around looking for Ruth.

"Levi will take care of him. Just like he always did." Ephraim murmured, joining them at the kitchen table. "That's...that's a nice thought, I think." With a huff, he collapsed into a chair. "Or, at least, it's one that makes me feel better."

Levi and Bob were waiting for him.

She wants to say. But she can't speak without falling apart.

So she doesn't.

Ephraim was the only one in their family that hadn't found his imprint.

He was stuck in his early to mid-twenties, and the selfish part of Bella was happy that he had yet to find his soulmate.

But he will. Just as everyone else has.

Bella stared at her empty glass numbly, trying to pull herself together as she spared a glance at Caleb.

And he'll leave. Just as everyone else will.

Caleb was sitting next to her, eyes red-rimmed and glassy, and his drink remained in his hand untouched.

Sitting to his right was his wife, Huautah, who was rubbing his back in a way that seemed to soothe him.

Chilali tucked her grey hair behind her ear, leaning on her elbow as she picked up the vodka bottle. "Fuck, this is depressing."

Aya sighed, "Really? In my damn house?"

"This is Caleb's house–"

The Vodou Queen gave her a look. "Just 'cause you're grown don't mean you get to talk back."

Chilali took a swig of the vodka before handing it to Aya. "Sorry, mom." She ran a hand down her weathered face. "How's dad taking it?"

Aya gnawed on her lip. "You know, 'bout as well as you could expect. Sent Mary Alice to go check on him. He said his goodbyes already but...your daddy's never been good with death." She took a drink before passing the bottle to Lucy.

Lucy put an arm around Chilali, drinking from the bottle before pouring a little more vodka in Bella's and Caleb's cups. "This isn't the first time he's watched family die. You'd think he'd be used to it by now." She said thoughtfully, hazy brown eyes looking in the direction of her brother despite seeing nothing. "I don't remember much about that night. I was too young...but you remember, right?"

Ephraim hummed, accepting the bottle from her. "Not very well. Just the running...and a car. Some crying, too. I wanted my mom."

Shaman Dyami hummed, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes. "It was a massacre...your father did his best but, your parents entrusted all of you to him." His eyes opened. "You all look just like them, you know." He sighed. "Charles grew up here. He saw his family..." he trailed off. "It doesn't surprise me that he struggles to cope."

A few tears slipped from their mother's eyes. "They're our babies, Shaman."

"I know." He accepted the bottle from Ephraim. "But all three of us are to continue leading the next generation of shifters. Jonathan, Mirabelle, Judith, and CJ will be shifting soon. Mirabelle and CJ are almost fifteen."

"CJ." Chilali chuckled, "Charles Junior. Levi was always such a kiss ass."

"Girl."

She sighed. "Mom–"

The front door opened and Mary Alice walked in.

Bella perked up at the sight of her vampire, eyes filling with tears as her sister approached her.

Gold eyes were dull, and she reached out, taking Bella's hand in hers before looking at Aya. "Mama, dad needs you."

Lucy grunted as Aya walked out the door. "Tell him his grandson needs him."

No one said a word.

Mary Alice sighed, releasing Bella's hand and going to Caleb. "Hey." Her voice had a tremor in it, and her eyes were filled with tears that would never fall. "How are you feeling?"

The man looked up at her from his seat, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her torso. "I'll be okay." He murmured, resting his head on her stomach and closing his eyes when she slipped her arms around his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his hair.

"Ain't gotta act all tough now." She laughed but there was no mirth. "Your grandad and I spent forever cryin' in the forest."

Caleb sighed and released her. "I'm not acting tough...I just don't know how to feel." He said.

Huautah's eyes watered as she leaned her head against her husband's shoulder. "It's sad...but at least he's not hurting anymore."

The vampire embraced Caleb's wife and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Yeah." She moved away from them, going to Bella and sitting in her lap. "What about you? How's my werecat doing?"

Lucy stared in their direction. "Oh, we're chopped liver?"

Mary Alice squeaked and jumped out of Bella's lap. "No! It's just, none of ya'll were crying and–" she quickly embraced her other siblings. "I'm sorry...watching ya'll get...uh..." she swallowed thickly, moving to Bella and sitting in her lap again. "It's tough."

"But it's natural." Shaman Dyami interjected. "It's different for Vodou Queens, Shamans, were-animals, and vampires. But even then, despite our immortality, we're not invincible." Dark eyes looked over the former shifters. "Caleb has stopped shifting, it won't be long before Charlotte stops as well. More will come, and more will die, and each and every time we will mourn them." His eyes filled with tears. "It was as I told Levi, life goes on, and so will we."

Bella leaned into Mary Alice, wrapping her arms around her torso and resting her head on her chest.

Life goes on. Rosalie's life went on. Is she dead? Is there any chance–

"Gene's path was through the swamp," Bella murmured. "Mom's house was there, so was the old willow, but all the leaves were white. When he went through the door, Levi and Bob were waiting for him." It became difficult to speak, and tears burned her eyes as she slammed them shut.

Ephraim chuckled, soft and sad as a few tears slipped down his cheeks. "See? I feel better already." He pushed the vodka to the middle of the table, sighing heavily as he looked at his calloused hands. "If only a little."

"I hope it's like sleeping." Lucy all but whispered. "Even if it's not...at least we won't be alone."

But you'll all be leaving me. I'll be alone.

As though reading her mind, Chilali gave her side a gentle swat. "You won't be alone either." She leaned forward, reaching out and taking her wrist. "Didn't mom tell you? That's what this is for." She ran her thumb across the tattoo, a short gold vine with five blue forget-me-nots. "And even if you didn't have this, you still have our parents, our sister, and Shaman Dyami."

A bony knuckle dug into her arm and Bella wiped her tears away, scowling as Lucy smirked at her. "Hey–"

"Don't waste the rest of our short lives by being sad and mopey." She looked pointedly at Mary Alice, Ephraim, Caleb, and Huautah. "I'm serious. I'll haunt your miserable asses."

Chilali laughed, "Me too!"

Ephraim grinned at them. "Me three!" It was unspoken, but they knew that, eventually, Ephriam would imprint.

The Alpha bloodline had to continue, and just as the rest of her siblings, he would wither and die.

He's here now. Stop thinking about that.

Bella looked at Mary Alice, who was smiling softly at their siblings. "Ain't a sad bone in my body."

Their nephew chuckled quietly. "I thought you were just sobbing in the forest–"

"You must be confused." She sniffed, gently running her hands through Bella's hair. "Right, Bell Bell?"

A quiet purr escaped her as she leaned into her sister's touch. "Stop being stupid, Caleb. Mary Alice has never been sad. Not once." She smiled when the vampire kissed her temple. "I think you should apologize."

Caleb couldn't fight his smile as he looked at Mary Alice. "I'm sorry for being stupid, aunty Alice." But as soon as his smile appeared, it fell. "This vodka isn't going to drink itself." He muttered, picking up his glass. "Tonight we say our goodbyes. We'll give him a nice funeral and...then we go on, like Shaman Dyami said." He downed it in a single gulp, not so much as wrinkling his nose at the taste.

Lucy scoffed at that, picking up the bottle and shaking her head. "You guys better fucking cry when I'm dead. I mean it. Don't act strong, just mourn me–"

"Shut up." Chilali laughed, gently shoving her sister's shoulder. "Tonight isn't about you. It's about Gene and Levi." She snatched the bottle from her, pouring some onto the ground and making Huautah frown.

"Uh, Chi–"

"Bella will clean it up." Chilali waved her off, ignoring Bella's scowl. "I'm pouring some out for my brothers." Her eyes were filled with tears but her smile was filled with joy. "To the most annoying but endearing pains in the ass I could ever ask for."

Ephraim chuckled, rough and raspy with glassy dark eyes. "Took the words right out of my mouth."

Shaman Dyami laughed and leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Remember the eating competitions?" Because their Shaman could never stand to remain sad for long.

Lucy wrinkled her nose. "How could we forget? One of them almost always threw up."

Mary Alice looked just as disgusted. "Usually Levi."

Bella gave Caleb a gentle nudge. "You know how your dad always gave you rides on his back when he was a wolf?"

"How could I forget?" His smile was large. "I fell off once and my mom about had a heart attack."

The werecat laughed, remembering how red Ruth's face had become when she realized what happened. "I thought she was going to kill him."

Huautah fought back her own laughter as she looked at Bella pointedly. "It didn't help that you made it sound worse than it was."

Ephraim rolled his eyes. "Little shit."

Mary Alice scowled at him. "She's ain't nothing but a saint! She only did that so Ruthie would be relieved when she found out Caleb only had a little bump."

"Do you hear yourself right now?"

Bella kissed her sister's shoulder, laughing as she said, "Ruthie and Levi looked like they were going to faint until they saw Caleb. Then they yelled at Gene so loud everyone on the Rez could hear."

Chilali nodded gravely. "I could hear it from my house. I didn't realize Levi was such a mother hen."

"You're one to talk," Lucy muttered.

"What?"

"You heard me."

Chilali frowned at her. "No, I didn't. Speak up!"

"No!"

That's how the rest of the night went.

They stayed up until the sun rose, reminiscing about Gene and Levi, shedding tears, and polishing off another bottle of vodka.

The Ateara siblings would no doubt give them hell when they awoke the next morning, but they were old and needed their rest.

The tipsy werecat helped Mary Alice, Ephraim, and the Shaman put the elder Swan sisters to bed. Taking them up the stairs, ignoring their grumbles, and tucking them into the large spare bed in Caleb's house.

Ephraim sat with their sisters, sullen and silent as the two quickly fell asleep.

And as Bella stumbled home, arm wrapped around Mary Alice's shoulders, her sister said, "We won't have forever with them...but at least we'll have this."

Unbidden thoughts of Gene and Levi came to the surface.

Unbidden thoughts of Rosalie came to the surface.

And Bella allowed herself to cry.

---

"I got your tea."

"Thanks."

He watched as Bella grabbed the milk from the fridge, moving so Mary Alice could slide past her. "Did you do your homework?" She set the milk on the table while Mary Alice appeared in the blink of an eye with a box of cereal in her hands.

The boy blinked groggily, shuffling over to the cupboard and grabbing a bowl. "Yeah." He grabbed a spoon, placing it in the bowl and scratching at short, disheveled black locks as he made his way to the table. "Are we out of pancakes?"

Mary Alice placed a hand on her hip, gold eyes narrowing. "Are you outta manners?"

He smiled impishly at her, flopping down into a seat and grabbing the cereal box. "Sorry." He began making his breakfast. "Thank you, aunty Alice. Thank you, aunt Bella."

The werecat grunted, clearly just as unhappy with being up as early as he was. "Yeah." Her tail thrashed slightly before coming to a stop. "No problem, kid." She tapped her sharpened nails against the counter for a moment. "We're out of pancakes and out of time. School starts in thirty minutes and you haven't even eaten yet. There won't be enough time for you to walk there."

The dark-skinned woman nodded. "I got in trouble for speeding last time." She rolled her eyes. "Ya'll sure make it hard to see. It's too blurry. Too unfocused." She complained. "Haven't had a clear vision in months."

"Sorry." He laughed, shoving cereal into his mouth as he looked up at his aunts. "Grandma can't fix that for you?" He said playfully, knowing Aya would give him a swat on the back of the head if she were with them.

"Don't let her hear you call her that." Bella huffed, though he noticed the small smile that played on her lips. "She barely likes being called gran." She gestured at his cup. "Drink your tea. And make sure you drink it at lunch. I don't need you starting any more shit with Sam."

The eleven year old scowled at that, reaching out and taking his cup of tea. "He's such a dick to Embry and Amelia–"

"And our mama will talk to him." Mary Alice intervened. "So will we. But you can't be out here starting trouble. Sam ain't your blood, but he's still family. He's still your Beta. You can't punch him when–"

The cup in his hand shattered. He was so angry he could hardly feel the ceramic digging into his flesh or the scalding tea burning his skin.

"No one else does anything! Embry doesn't even defend himself! He didn't even do anything wrong!" He snarled, standing to his feet so fast that the moment sent his chair crashing onto the floor. "And Amelia can't help that Sam's dad sucks!"

The hand on the back of his neck was warm, holding him in a gentle yet firm grip.

The same hand that held his at the funeral. The same hand that stroked his hair to help lull him to sleep. The same hand that wiped his tears and cradled his cheeks.

This hand was grounding.

"Paul Lahote!" He froze, anger vanishing when he looked up at Bella. She stood over him, gripping the back of his neck, and her tail lashed angrily behind her. Grey eyes darkened as his aunt grabbed his wrist and held his injured hand up. "Get your shit together, kid! Fucking dammit, look at your hand!"

Blood oozed from his palm, mixing with the brown tea and running down his arm.

Mary Alice was at his side in an instant, holding a wet rag and gently running it over his cuts.

Where Bella's hands were warm, Mary Alice's were cold. They felt good against his feverishly hot skin.

Where Bella's touch was grounding, Mary Alice's touch had always been calming.

Soothing.

"We get you're angry, Pauley, but you can't be doing this."

Mary Alice sounded sad.

Disappointed.

And Paul couldn't help but bow his head in shame.

"I...I'm sorry."

Sam made him so infuriated that it was difficult to think past his anger.

He's such a dick. I should punch him again.

He felt his skin begin to heat up.

When I shift I'm going to tear his wolf apart. I'm going to make him apologize for being such a–

"Hey!" Bella snapped, making him jump and look up at her. "Sam shouldn't be such an asshole, I agree." She had made him another cup of tea, and Mary Alice had cleaned his wound and bandaged his hand before he had even realized what happened. "But starting fights won't get you anywhere." She put the cup in front of him. "Drink. All of it. Or I'm getting your grandpa."

Paul's eyes widened and he was quick to drink all his tea in one gulp.

When Rachel and Rebecca Black shifted, they had thought they were strong enough to fight Charlie during their fits of rage.

Bella and Mary Alice had watched on with knowing expressions as the werecat took down both the wolves with ease. Their grandfather hadn't even bothered shifting, staying in his human form as he made an example out of the twins.

"I don't need to be an Alpha to humble the both of you. Control yourselves. Now."

Shaman Dyami said there was always at least one wolf in every pack that attempted to fight one of the werecats.

"It's never out of malice, but short tempers lead to a clouded judgment. And a clouded judgment leads to death if you're not careful."

Mary Alice sighed and leaned against her sister, resting her head on her shoulder. "Guess it's too much to ask for everyone to get along."

Bella wrapped an arm around her waist, giving Paul a stern look before leaning forward and ruffling his hair. "Our nieces and nephews have always been rowdy. Infighting isn't new. But it is annoying." Paul leaned into her touch, shoveling more food into his mouth and sighing as the tea made his muscles relax. "Don't forget your lunch, kid. And don't forget to drink your damn tea."

...

School was let out early because of Christmas break.

Paul waited outside for his friends, sitting on the base of the wolf monument that sat just outside of his middle school.

All the schools had their own monument dedicated to the protectors of La Push. They were large and made of wood, and Paul had always felt comforted at the sight of them.

Ephraim Elementary across the street had the monument of Ephraim.

The wolf of Ephraim was painted the same reddish-brown color that his fur had been. His wolf stood tall and proud, around the same size as his actual wolf. His head was held high and his gaze was directed towards the parking lot.

Oftentimes the children would climb his monument, pretending to be warriors or shifters themselves as they rode Ephraim to strike down the supernatural threats to humanity. They had once been scolded for doing so, but Ephraim had put a stop to that.

"I like that I can make the children smile, even if it's just a statue of me. Let them play. I want them to keep smiling, even after I'm gone."

And so the children played, and every few months, all the monuments were all touched up.

Clearwater High had the monuments of Chilali and Lucy. Chilali's gold wolf and Lucy's grey one had a more gentle appearance. But it was a comforting sight all the same.

The sisters were sitting, with Lucy's wolf pressed against Chilali's. She rested her large head against her sister's neck, and they both stared straight ahead with their ears high and Chilali's tail laying atop her sister's.

Uley and Lahote Middle School had the monuments of Paul's great-grandfather and Levi Uley.

The black wolf of Levi and the silver wolf of Gene were standing, both had their heads tilted to the sky as they howled. Their wolves were pressed against one another, with Levi being only a fraction taller than Gene.

They were brothers. Best friends.

The Uley and Lahote line had always been close because of the bond that Gene and Levi shared.

But Sam is ruining it like the asshole he is.

Paul watched with a sneer as Sam and Leah exited the middle school.

Sam walked proudly, standing just taller than Paul. His black hair went to his shoulders and was pulled back in a braid. Dark brown eyes found Paul's, and he narrowed them before looking away and moving to the other side of the double doors.

Leah went with him, sparing a glare at Paul before turning her back to him and speaking quietly to Sam.

Bitch.

But Paul wasn't going to start and trouble. He promised his aunts that he wouldn't.

Instead, he watched as the kids from the elementary school across the street poured out of the double doors.

Amelia II and Embry were a few months younger than he was, and it sucked. He had just gotten to sixth grade but they were stuck in fifth for another year before they joined him. But at the very least he had–

"Hey, bitch."

Paul grinned when Jared appeared, punching his shoulder and laughing when his slightly shorter friend scowled at him. "Hey, little bitch."

Jared rubbed his shoulder and punched him back. "Shut up." He looked at the elementary school. "Embry and Amelia out yet?"

Paul noticed his friend look into the reflection of the school window, fixing his short mohawk and rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

Since when do you care how you look?

It was snowing, and it was piling up, but the shifters could hardly feel the cold. The rest of their peers were bundled up in coats, shivering when they exited the school, but not them. Never them.

"School's out but I haven't seen them yet."

"Seth! Jake! Over here!" Sam's voice boomed, making Paul roll his eyes.

Nine year old Jacob Black and seven year old Seth Clearwater came sprinting across the street.

Both of the boys were giggling, hands intertwined as Jake pulled Seth along. The younger boy's shorter legs nearly led to him falling several times, but Jake let him go, and Seth didn't fall, not once.

Jared stepped forward, garnering his cousin's attention with a wave. "Jakey Jake!" This made the young Alpha come to a stop, grinning broadly as he tugged Seth towards Jared.

"Jare Jare!" Jared laughed as Jake fell into his arms, holding him tight and kissing the top of his head.

Paul stood there, awkwardly looking at Seth as the cousins talked and embraced one another. "Uh, hey, kid," Bella called him that for as long as he could remember.

It made her sound cool. Older, and wiser. He hoped he sounded the same when he said it.

Seth smiled up at him and gave him a friendly wave. "Hi, Paul!" To his surprise, the youngest Clearwater hugged him.

He cast a glance at Leah, who was giving him a stern look, and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around the younger boy. "Have a good day?"

He'll be part of our pack. Aunty Alice says I should be nice to him.

"Yeah! I'm excited for Christmas!" Seth enthused, pulling away with a smile. "Bye, Paul!"

He dashed off to his sister, leaving the older boy to stare after him. "See ya." Seth was always a nice kid, far nicer than his grumpy older sister. Even then, never had Paul received a hug from him.

Paul noticed Leah give him a slight nod before she embraced her baby brother. Jake soon ran to Sam, who greeted him affectionately, ruffling his hair and speaking happily with him.

Everything happened quickly.

The large orange wolf of Billy Black came bursting through the parking lot, followed closely by a large tiger and the wolf of Harry Clearwater. Two more wolves appeared behind them, Rachel and Rebecca Black.

The school children cheered, knowing better than to go up to the shifters and werecat unless they were approached by them.

All the residents of La Push knew of their protectors, and they were taught at a young age to respect them.

Admire from afar, befriend them if given the chance, but the protectors were to be given space, as were their children.

Rachel, Rebecca, and Harry fanned out. They trotted along the perimeter, mindful of the cars that all stopped to let them pass. Paul noticed the way the twin alpha's heads were bowed.

They look sad.

The wolf of Billy Black approached Jake and Sam.

Seth grinned up at the wolf but remained next to his sister. "Hi, Mr. Black!" He turned to Leah. "Is our dad going to give us a ride home?" His eyes gleamed with excitement and Leah shrugged before giving him a smile.

"Let him finish his patrol, then maybe he will."

"Yes!" He high-fived his older sister before looking back up at Billy in awe.

"Dad!" Jake cheered, running up and embracing his father's front leg. The dark orange wolf bent his large head, nuzzling into his son's hair and closing his eyes. His ears pressed against his skull, and a soft whine escaped him.

Did something happen?

Billy opened his eyes and looked at Sam.

The future Beta stared up at the current Alpha, searching his eyes for a moment before he nodded. "Come here, Jake. Let me help you up."

Mary Alice appeared, gold eyes searching as she sniffed the air. She was alert, but not panicked.

Her black curls were pulled back into a bun, and she offered the beaming children a small wave as she passed by.

"Aunty Alice!" Seth waved.

Leah and Sam smiled at her. "Aunty Alice!" Though Paul noticed the look of distress that Sam bore.

Something is wrong.

The large, gold tigress approached Paul, garnering the same greeting from shifters.

"Aunt Bella, are you here to give us a ride home?" Jared asked, looking around in confusion. "Embry and Amelia still aren't out, and I don't see my mom."

Mary Alice moved to stand before the shifters, watching as Billy thundered down the street and into the woods with Jake clinging to his back. "Your mama is with your grandpa and Joshua."

Sam scoffed at that. "My dad is actually helping for once?"

"Quit it." Their aunt shook her head. "After they check everything here, ya'll will be taken to our house. We'll explain everything." The insistent nudge of Bella made Paul look at her. "Bella's taking you home now. The rest of our pack will meet you there." Mary Alice assured them, turning and darting off before any of them could say a word.

...

"What's going on?" Paul asked, slipping off Bella's back and watching as she reverted back to her more human form.

Her tail lashed behind her, and she didn't say a word as she walked into the house. Without hesitation, Paul followed. He was wary of his aunt's angry body language, but he knew better than to ask.

The quiet noise of a bobcat made him look up, and he smiled as she approached them. "Come on, Bobby." She rubbed against his leg before following Bella into the house.

Once inside, his aunt sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her, and Paul followed suit. Bobby laid at the werecat's feet, making a quiet distressed noise as she rubbed her head against Bella's shin.

Bella sighed, and that's when Paul noticed the dullness of her usually bright grey eyes. She leaned down, petting Bobby in silent appreciation, before looking at Paul.

"It's Sarah Black." She spoke quietly, voice soft and sad, and Paul couldn't help but move closer to her.

"...are you okay?"

This earned him a tired smile. "I've been alive for years, kid. I'm just fine." She grew quiet, gently taking his hand in hers. "But Sarah isn't. She went into town today and...a vampire got ahold of her."

Paul's eyes widened. "W-What?"

She clenched her jaw and looked away from him. "She's dead, Paul."

He wasn't sure what to think of that.

He wasn't sure what to feel.

Sarah was always nice to him the few times they had interacted. She helped Charlie and some of the other pack's mothers make food for the shifters. She had always been so happy with her warm smiles and gentle embraces.

She's dead. Jake's mom...Rachel and Rebecca's mom...

Paul didn't know what to think.

Mary Alice said emotions were really complicated, and a lot of times, it took people a long time to understand their feelings.

So, he didn't know how he felt. Because, the feeling he did feel, was one he didn't quite recognize.

It was as though there was a weight on his chest and a tightness in his throat.

Paul didn't know how to feel, because he couldn't put this new feeling into words.

But what he did know was that Sarah's death was sad.

What he did know was that Jake, Rebecca, Rachel, and Billy were going to be really sad.

Just like when my mom–

"You liked her a lot." The boy murmured, watching his aunt carefully.

He wondered if Bella knew the name for the strange new feeling he had.

"I did."

"...are you sad?"

Paul had never seen Bella cry, not even when his mother passed away. The two had been close, but a leshen had gotten the better of her.

His grandparents offered to take care of him, but his aunts had insisted.

"Dakota won't be there to mentor him when he shifts." Bella had reminded Caleb. "Rebecca, Rachel, and Jacob will have Billy. Leah and Seth will have Harry. But Paul...I worry about his temperament. I worry about you and Huautah trying to raise a young shifter by yourselves. Please, kid, let us help."

His grandparents had conceded, and Paul and his aunts would visit their house frequently so they could stay connected.

They told him stories of his great-grandfather's legacy and of his mother's bravery.

They spoke of his mother often, but...Paul could never quite remember her.

He remembered that he had cried at her funeral, and long after Bella and Mary Alice took him in.

But he was eleven now, and oftentimes it was difficult to remember Dakota's face. He looked over pictures, but the images didn't stick.

His mother's face was blurry in memories. Almost there but not quite.

Distant.

But he remembered her wolf, with fur so silver it was almost white.

And he remembered how she made him feel.

Happy and safe and loved, even when his father left them.

But anytime Paul thought of his mother's face, it was always Bella and Mary Alice that came to mind.

"Sad..." Bella said. "I don't know if you'll understand what I'm saying. You're a kid."

"I'm smart," Paul insisted. "I'll understand. I will."

His aunt smiled, but her eyes didn't look happy. "You are smart." A sigh slipped past her lips. "When you've lived a long time, you see a lot of people pass. People you love." She murmured, staring down at her hands as her tail fell limply across her lap. "Sadness doesn't really feel like sadness anymore. It's more of a...numbness." A dry chuckle escaped her. "I've walked many to the beyond. And I learned that, besides my parents and my sister, I am damned to see everyone leave."

You've always been there for me. I can be there for you too.

Paul frowned, puffing out his chest and staring at Bella with determination. "Not me. I'll be the best shifter here, Bells. And I won't leave you, not ever, not even if I find my imprint. I promise."

This made her scoff. "Don't be stupid. You can't promise something like that." She waved him off. "Every shifter finds their imprint one way or another. Then they stop shifting. Or they die fighting monsters." She sounded bitter. Hateful. "Many wolves promised me eternity, and now they're dead in the ground. What makes you any different?"

Paul had never seen Bella cry, not even when his mother passed away.

If I died would you feel sadness? Or numbness? Would you cry?

His eyes watered.

I'd cry if you died.

Paul swallowed thickly, looking down at his lap and shrugging his broad shoulders. "I-I'll train really hard so I'll stay alive. I will. You'll see." He blinked away his tears and looked up at her. "And I'll talk to gran, maybe she can do something to make me never imprint. Then I'll be with you–" he was crushed into a hug, one he quickly reciprocated.

I'll try really hard. I will. I'll stay with you. No matter what.

Bella's tail curled around his arm and she laid her head on his shoulder. "You're a good kid. Sorry I was such a bitch." She kissed his temple. "I know you'll train hard. I know you'll be the best shifter. Because your aunty and I will train you as best as we can." Paul buried his face into her neck. "But immortality is..." she sighed and pulled away, looking at him sadly. "Don't live for me, Paul. Live for yourself."

He wasn't quite sure what she meant, but he had told her he was smart enough to understand, so he nodded.

Bella kissed his forehead before saying, "Billy Black and his family are going to be hurting. Billy lost his imprint, and his kids lost their mother." Grey eyes searched light brown ones. "Jake could use a friend...one who understands."

Paul didn't remember his mother's face all that well.

He could hardly remember her voice.

But he remembered how she made him feel.

Just as he remembered how broken he had felt when she died.

Bella and Mary Alice took care of me after mom died.

Paul stared at his aunt, the werecat who had so quickly taken on the role of his mother and his best friend.

"It's normal, you know? All this crying you're doing. When your grandfather died...shit, kid. I don't think I've ever stopped crying."

And Mary Alice, the vampire who had shown him a love so akin to his own mother, it still brought him to tears.

I can take care of Jake. I know how.

"I'll take care of him. Just like you and Mary Alice took care of me."

...

"Another funeral," Bella remarked quietly, zipping up her sister's dress as Mary Alice adjusted Paul's tie.

Gold eyes were dim, and his aunt's usual perky demeanor was nowhere to be found.

"I...I'm tired of dressing in black." She noticed Paul's stare, and she forced a smile. "You look handsome as can be, Pauley." She fixed his hair and smoothed down his suit jacket. "You oughta let me dress you up more often. I saw the cutest button-up shirt at the mall. It's a baby blue, it would look so nice on you with some white sneakers with light blue accents and a–"

"You don't have to pretend. Not in front of the kid." His other aunt muttered.

Mary Alice straightened up, turning to Bella with a scowl. "Ain't nobody pretending, Bella–"

"Sarah's dead and you're talking about shopping."

The vampire hissed at her, making Paul jump in surprise. "Better than moping around and running away!"

The werecat's tail flicked in irritation. "What's this really about, Al?"

With that one question, Mary Alice came undone. "My kind did this, Bella! A vampire killed Sarah and..." she choked back a sob, bowing her head and curling her hands into fists. "It wasn't a drowner or a doppleganger or a wraith or a witch. It was a vampire! And Billy and the kids are going to wake up every day thinking about how someone like me, someone like their aunty, up and took their mama away." She was panting now, chest heaving and eyes black as she looked up at the werecat. "Let me pretend, Bella!"

Bella stared at her sister, grey eyes searching gold before she reached out and took her hand in hers. "No one is going to look down on you. A vampire did this. Some vampires are monsters. So are some werecats. But we aren't. You aren't. All you've ever done is protect humanity. And if anyone says anything to you about this, I'll handle it."

Rarely did the sisters fight. And Paul had no idea that this was something that so was so bothersome to Mary Alice.

His aunt's eyes watered, tears that would never fall, and with a quiet sob, she embraced Bella tightly. She uttered apologies for her rudeness, but the werecat merely held her, seeming to have taken no offense as she kissed her sister's temple.

Hesitantly, Paul hugged Mary Alice, sandwiching her between himself and Bella. "I love you." He said. Because he hated seeing her upset.

He believed that Mary Alice should only ever be smiling. She was the happiest person he knew, and she always left him smiling.

Bella looked at her nephew in approval, releasing her sister and ruffling his hair. Mary Alice turned in his arms, eyes still wet and bottom lip quivering.

"I love you too." She held him close, skin as cold as ice seeping through his clothes and giving him goosebumps.

But he didn't pull away.

When the hug ended, Bella smiled with practiced ease. The smile even reached her eyes, and Paul wondered if it was real, or if Bella was acting. Oftentimes, he couldn't tell by sight alone.

"So, we do all this, come home, take a nap, then we'll go to the mall?"

Pretending...is that what you're doing?

Bella hated going into the city.

But aunty Alice loves it. Is that why we're going?

Mary Alice smiled, but she was never as good at acting as Bella was. "We can go to the mall another time. We oughta be with Billy and the kids." She hesitated before looking at Paul. "Or, if it would make you feel better, we can go do something fun?"

The whole pack and their families had rallied with Paul once his mother passed. It had been annoying at first. He hadn't wanted anyone to be around him but his aunts and gran. But he had soon realized that being surrounded by everyone he loved...

It was nice. It helped make me feel better.

And so, Paul shook his head. "No. They need us."

Jake needs us. I can take care of him. I can.

Bella looked proud, so did Mary Alice, and their approval made him feel good.

"My sweet boy." The vampire cooed, kissing his cheek and beaming at him. "Our little boy is growing up real nice, ain't he?"

A flash of panic appeared in Bella's eyes, but as soon as it appeared, it vanished.

The werecat placed her hand on the back of his neck, staring at him silently before she kissed his forehead.

"He sure is."

...

The funeral was a large one, despite it being private.

The memories are foggy, but Paul remembers his mother's being the same way.

Sarah's family was there, sitting in the front row next to Billy's extended family, along with Caleb and Huautah.

The pack and their families sat in the rows behind them.

And Sarah's many friends were in the back. Because the pack and the families always got priority.

Their Alpha's imprint died. It was a pain they would all share.

Shaman Dyami was speaking, and a somber Billy Black stood at his side with an elderly Ephraim Black holding his hand.

Charlie and Aya were standing with the twins, holding each of them in their arms as the girls cried.

Paul sat with Jared and his mother, while Embry and Amelia sat with their mothers.

Sam's mom was standing with Harry and Sue Clearwater, holding her face in her hands as Harry wrapped a comforting arm around each woman.

Tears were in Harry's eyes as he stared at Billy Black. His Alpha. His best friend.

Sam and Embry's father, Joshua, stood a ways away from everyone else. He leaned against a tree, one hand fisted his flask and the other held a bouquet of sunflowers so tightly his knuckles turned white. His eyes were red-rimmed and his hands were shaky.

Bella stood at his side, one hand on his shoulder and the other reached out, taking his flask away from him and dumping the contents onto the forest floor.

"Not here, Joshy." She murmured, speaking only loud enough for him to hear.

Mary Alice had Jake in her lap, sitting amongst the other shifter children as she held him close to her chest. The younger boy was crying, loud and openly in a way that made Paul's own tears rise to the surface.

That strange feeling returned again.

The feeling that weighed on his chest and made his throat tighten.

The feeling with no name.

Rebecca and Rachel were sobbing more quietly, but Jake didn't suppress his anguish.

Did I sound like that when my mom died?

Paul remembers that he had been screaming at one point, but he couldn't remember the sound of it. He had been trying to get to his mother's body before it was lowered into the ground, and it was Mary Alice that had snatched him up and held him close.

I just wanted her to wake up. But she didn't. Not even when I yelled at her.

When the service ended people went around to pay their respects.

Jake had shoved his way through the crowd, as best as a nine year old could, and was so angry he was trembling.

I remember being angry.

Shifters resumed aging once they found their imprint and had children.

But they also continued shifting as they aged, so they could teach their children what it meant to protect their tribe.

Once they reached middle age, they were given a choice. They could remain immortal and keep shifting, or, as all of them had done so far, stop shifting and become mortal.

My mom was supposed to be my mentor. She was supposed to stay immortal. She was supposed to stay with me.

But she had died.

And his world had ended.

Paul and Bella had walked his mother to the Beyond, and it was nearly impossible for him to let go.

But he did, because Bella was there.

"I know I'm not a shifter, kid. And I can never be your mom, but I'd be damn proud to run and fight by your side. You've always been strong...so keep being strong, and tell your mom goodbye."

With a sob, he let his mother go.

And she was gone.

Just like that.

"My brother taught me what it meant to be strong. And you...shit, Paul. You're the strongest kid I know."

He hadn't felt very strong. But Bella never lied to him, so it must have been true.

I'll be strong for Jake, too.

Paul sucked in a breath before he moved to go after the boy.

He was stopped abruptly when a large hand grabbed his arm. "Leave him be, Lahote."

He shook Sam's hand off his shoulder angrily. "I know what I'm doing, Uley. Fuck off, I'm serious."

This earned him an eye roll. "How does a hothead like you think you know what you're doing? Jake needs someone calm. You should leave this to me."

Asshole.

Paul was about to yell at him when Bella's voice drew their attention. "What Jake needs is someone who understands, Sam." The werecat stood there with her arms crossed and her tail lazily moving side to side. "Don't be a dick, beloved nephew of mine. Let Paul go to talk to Jake."

Sam's eyes widened slightly, but he stepped aside and nodded. "I...yeah." Because, no matter how high and mighty Sam liked to pretend he was, he hated disappointed Bella and Mary Alice. The Beta looked at Paul. "Go ahead." Bella cleared her throat and he ducked his head in slight embarrassment. "And...I'm sorry for being a dick."

Paul snorted at him. "Whatever. You're still a dick–"

"Ge–" Bella stopped abruptly, pursing her lips before she shook her head. "Cut the shit, kid. He apologized." Paul softened ever so slightly.

You said I looked just like him. Do you wish I was him?

Sam looked earnest in his apology, fiddling with the cufflinks on his suit and furrowing his brow. "I was just trying to look out for Jake. I shouldn't have been a dick about it."

Paul hated how mature Sam sounded.

You're twelve. Act like it.

And he especially hated the way Bella placed a hand on the Beta's shoulder and gave him an approving nod.

He could feel his other aunt's eyes on him, as well as his grandfather's eyes. And, paired with Bella's presence, he bit back his displeasure.

"You're still a dick, but...thanks for apologizing."

Bella glanced at Mary Alice, who had clearly muttered something under her breath, based on the scowl she gave her sister. "He does not get that from me. Shut up." Paul noticed Charlie laugh under his breath before muttering something to Aya. "Screw you, old man." She then wrapped her arm around Sam's shoulders. "Come on, Sammy. Let's go talk to Rachel and Rebecca."

The somber atmosphere returned.

She's dead. We're at a funeral.

The smiles of Mary Alice and Charlie disappeared, and the mirth in Bella's eyes vanished. "Make me proud, kid." And with that, she and Sam walked back towards the crowd.

I will. And I'll take good care of Jake. Just like you took care of me.

---

When Bella saw Rosalie again the world stopped.

A coven of gold eyes had traveled to Forks and was wanting to meet with the pack leaders to discuss a treaty.

They needed a new place to live, and they wanted to know if there was a spot in the woods they could reside in.

Mary Alice was initially excited until she was told she wasn't allowed at the meeting.

"None of us will be there, except for Bella. And even then she'll be invisible." Charlie explained, stoking the flames of the sizable fire they sat around. "They're gold eyes, but that doesn't mean they're trustworthy. They don't need to know all the advantages we have. Not yet."

The songs of crickets filled the silence, and Bella's tail twitched when Leah stretched out between her legs and laid her head on her lap. Paul was behind the werecat, letting her rest her head on his chest.

Sam rested next to them, leaning against Mary Alice, who had Seth laying in her lap. The fourteen year old wasn't listening, instead, he was toying with the tattoo on his aunt's wrist.

Jake sat in between his father and Sam, hugging his knees to his chest and listening quietly. The sixteen year old was to become the Alpha of the pack once he was older. Until then the nineteen year old beta, Sam Uley, would lead them.

Leah's ten year old cousin, Brady, was sitting in Charlie's lap while Jake's eight year old cousin, Collin, sat in Aya's. The young boys wouldn't shift for some time, but Billy had insisted that they attended pack meetings, despite not listening to a word that was being said.

Harry Clearwater sat next to Embry, Jared, and Amelia II.

Ephraim sat with Caleb and Huautah on a thick log. Huautah was curled into Caleb's side, and her husband smiled down at her, tucking a strand of grey hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead.

Ephraim was humming softly to himself, braiding his stark white hair and listening intently as the meeting went on.

His cane rested at his side, but he didn't even need it.

He just liked, as he often said, 'whacking things' and being obnoxious.

Well, Bella called him obnoxious, because he acted like such a kid with that cane despite being sixty years old.

Bella couldn't help but smile fondly at her brother, who caught her eye and gave her a wink before he once again focused on his braid.

It was strange to think that he was a few years younger than Caleb and his imprint, but he had found his own imprint later in life.

It was nice that one of her siblings, besides Mary Alice, was still around.

Comforting.

Shaman Dyami huffed out a sigh, pacing by the fire and speaking quietly to his eagle before sending her away. "I had only met with one of the vampires, her name was Esme. She seems nice enough but..." he gestured at Mary Alice, "These vampires don't have the blessing that Mary Alice does. Human blood will always be a temptation to them."

Mary Alice looked at him thoughtfully. "Bella and I know some gold-eyed vampires in Alaska. They haven't fed off humans in years."

Billy Black frowned. "Be that as it may, we don't know how many there are. They sound like another problem we'll have to watch out for."

"And this is our land. What right do they have to ask for any of it?" Harry challenged, earning him the quiet agreement of the pack. "We should send them away. Our hands are already full. We don't need them encroaching on our territory."

Bella looked at him. "Then we make them pay rent." She shrugged, earning her a few chuckles and a look from Harry. "Vampires have loads of money, Harry. It can go to improving the reservation."

Her nephew mulled this over with a furrowed brow. "I see what you're saying, Bells, but what if they bring unwanted company? What if they try to raise a newborn here? What if they turn someone?"

"Then we kill them." Sam offered. "If they have mind powers, Alice, Bella, and Charlie can take them. They're protected. And we can take down the rest."

The Vodou Queen had tried to place the same protection spell on the minds of the original shifters, but it disrupted the packlink, and she had to remove the spell.

Aya grunted and shook her head. "We stretched too thin. Ever since Rachel and Rebecca left..." she sighed. "There's only fourteen of us, and Seth ain't even old enough to be a wolf. We had him shift a year early to have another wolf. We don't even know how many vampires they got in their coven. We don't know how well they can fight. If one of your packmates falls...it'll make protecting this town and our home more difficult."

"So we tell them to leave." Sam supplied. "Billy's right, we don't need that kind of trouble here."

Charlie frowned, resting his chin on Brady's shoulder, who was now sound asleep. "But if they stay, their scents could deter other vampires." A thoughtful hum escaped him. "They could help us in other ways."

Leah sat up slightly. "If they're like aunty Alice, doesn't that mean that they care about humans?"

Charlie nodded slowly. "Or, at the very least, they tolerate them. They don't want to hurt them...so maybe these vampires can help us protect the town."

"They blend in better." Bella pointed out. "If there's a threat, you can't risk exposing your secret in town. But the vampires can take care of it."

It was part of the reason her father had taken the job of the police chief, traveling back and forth from the reservation into town, buying a second home that he resided at during the week. It also aided in keeping the shifters a secret if the occasional spooked hiker happened to catch a glimpse of one. But that didn't happen often, unless there was a threat nearby.

And if any murders were committed by the supernatural, Cheif Swan was always the first to know.

Mary Alice attended Forks University, Bella would patrol the town, and Shaman's eagle would spend her days in the sky to keep a watchful eye out.

But it wasn't enough.

Some of the older shifters would go into town and keep an ear out for anything strange, but their powers were too obvious, and they disliked leaving the forest and the reservation.

"That's...not a bad idea." Billy conceded. "And if they don't hold up their end of the deal, then they have to leave. No exceptions."

Ephraim Black smiled, placing his cane in his lap and giving his son a nod. "Make sure you play nice with the vampires." He scratched at his now grey hair, giving Bella a wrinkled smile that made her roll her eyes. "You too."

"I'm always nice." She snarked back.

Caleb Lahote ran a hand over his weathered face, most likely trying to hide his smile as he said, "I'm not sure about always–"

"Don't make me disown you." She grumbled. "Stupid old wolves."

Her brother and nephew chuckled, and the sound warmed her heart. They, hopefully, still had a few years on them before they passed, and Bella planned to make the most of them.

Befriending vampires wasn't a foreign concept to her.

Bella didn't care much for protecting humanity.

It wasn't in her nature. Or in the nature of werecats as a species.

She cared about protecting her family.

She had made friends with the occasional creature. A doppleganger, a werewolf, and a red-eyed vampire here and there amongst other things.

"Better to have a few friends in this world than none at all."

And this wouldn't be the first vampire coven that she and Mary Alice had allied themselves with.

"So it's decided," Billy said, adjusting his black cowboy hat before turning to Shaman Dyami. "Keep Senu on the Cullens. I want to know everything we can before we arrange the meeting." His jaw tightened and his hands curled into fists. "Cold Ones have gotten the drop on us once. I won't let it happen again."

Vampires were not the sworn nemesis of the shifters.

They couldn't be when all the shifters had grown up with Mary Alice as their aunt.

But, as with all supernatural creatures, they were treated with caution.

"Vampires paying rent for territory." Ephraim chuckled. "You know, back in my day–"

Obnoxious.

"Meeting adjourned," Billy said quickly, huffing out a laugh at his father's scowl before he turned to the pack. "I want one-hundred laps around the Rez. You will be timed. And after, half of you will undergo training while the rest are on border patrol. Understand?" The pack voiced their agreement and he nodded. "Sam and Jake will lead one group, Harry and I will lead the other. We'll divide you once you're finished with your run. And I expect no fighting, do I make myself clear?"

All eyes fell on Sam and Amelia II, who made a face but nodded all the same.

"Then, I want you to go to your mentors. And we'll go from there."

Bella looked at her shifters. "Paul, Sam, Embry, and Amelia, today is going to be short. Your aunt has things to do."

"Bells," Charlie warned, making her shoot him a glare before she sighed.

"Fine. Today will still be short." Her father pinched the bridge of his nose while Mary Alice beamed at them.

"Today you'll have to catch me!"

Paul's eyes widened in excitement and Embry smiled. "That sounds fun."

Amelia glanced at Sam before saying, "I bet I can catch aunty Alice before the rest of you."

Before Sam could retort Bella shook her head. "Cut the bullshit. Boast all you want after you catch her." She stood to her feet and stretched. "Take your time with your warm-ups. I need a nap."

...

All the shifters were in their wolf forms except for Sam and Billy.

The temporary Alpha stood next to Billy, who was partially in front of Jake's russet-red wolf.

His wolf looked identical to Ephraim's, and sometimes Bella couldn't bear to look at him.

Leah's light grey wolf stood next to Seth's blonde one and their father's dark grey wolf. The siblings were both on the smaller side, but Seth was still growing and Leah was able to compensate with her impressive speed.

Paul's large silver wolf stood in between Amelia's brown one and Jared's white one. On Jared's other side was Embry's black wolf with white spots, and Jared's mother, a white wolf with grey streaks through her fur.

Bella sat in the tree above them, invisible and masked in the scents of the shifters.

She toyed with the red cane on her bracelet that was crammed in her pocket, listening intently as the quiet footfalls of the vampires approached them.

Senu had scouted the vampires for hours before the meeting, and they learned the vampires had a mind reader among them.

Shaman Dyami had instructed them to keep their thoughts on the present threats that faced Forks, and nothing else. They didn't want to risk giving away their assets, especially to an unknown coven.

When six gold-eyed vampires appeared Bella made sure to hold her breath, not wanting to give away her heartbeat, should the vampires be attentive.

The shifters eyed them warily but none of them made a sound. All of them had grown up with Mary Alice as their aunt, as had their parents and grandparents before them. They didn't hate vampires as a whole, not the ones with gold eyes, but they had never been fond of newcomers and they would never let their guard down.

The blonde man, the one who appeared to be their leader, stepped forward.

"Hello, I'm Carlisle Cullen..." his eyes widened slightly. "You have an impressive amount of shifters." He looked at the wolves in awe before his eyes fell on Jake's wolf. "You have a very nice coat." He had a smooth-sounding voice and a charming smile that he flashed at Sam and Billy. "I hope you don't mind me saying, but I would have thought your kind to be more hostile towards us. There are other shifters in the south who certainly aren't friends of our kind"

Sam glanced at Billy, and the older man gave him a nod, making the Beta step forward. "Carlisle." He held his hand out. "I'm Sam Uley, and this is our former Alpha, Billy Black. We have a proposition for you."

Carlisle's eyes widened at the polite gesture and he shook the shifter's hand. "Yes, well, my family and I are happy to hear it." He turned to the rest of his coven. "My apologies. I forgot to introduce them." Bella nearly rolled her eyes.

"This is my mate, Esme. My sons, Edward and Jasper. And these are my daughters, Eleanor–"

Eleanor?

Bella peered at the black-haired woman curiously.

Coincidence. Has to be.

The vampire was tall, nearly as tall as Edward, with defined muscles and broad shoulders. Her long, black curls were tied into a high ponytail, adding to her athletic look. She had the beauty of a vampire, a chiseled jaw, and sharp cheekbones.

Her hands were crammed in her jacket pockets, and gold eyes were focused on the shifters.

She looked in awe of them.

There was a childish delight that danced in her bright eyes, and her smile was wide and familiar and bore white teeth and dimples.

Vera's smile…Eleanor? No. It can't be.

But Eleanor hadn't been at Vera's funeral, at least, not from what Bella had seen. And this vampire's scent was familiar, as was her grin.

And, if Bella concentrated enough, she could see that loud and proud little six year old running around and demanding piggyback rides with her mouth stained with cake frosting and her eyes filled with joy.

Ellie? Is that really you?

Carlisle continued, and Bella tore her eyes off the large vampire.

"–and Rosalie."

Princess?

The moment Bella looked into her eyes it was as though the world around her darkened. But Rosalie was at the center, shining just as brightly as she always did.

It was as though nothing else mattered.

Only Rosalie.

It had always been Rosalie.

It would only ever be Rosalie.

My...my Rosalie. My mate.

Vampirism looked good on her, smoothing away the flaws and imperfections that Bella had never paid any mind to in the first place.

Rosalie had always been the most beautiful girl in the world, and now, so many years later, she still was.

Bella stared at her, fighting the urge to throw herself at her old friend and kiss her senseless.

You're alive. You're here. But...how did you become a vampire? What happened? Why didn't you look for me?

Her eyes watered and her throat tightened.

It had been hard to keep the thoughts of Rosalie Hale away. No matter how hard she tried, her mind would wander to golden blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes.

To the curve of her lips and the feel of her hand in hers.

In her dreams, they still escaped to the firefly tree, laughing breathlessly as they ran with their glass jars clanking against one another.

Everyone was there, waiting for them with wide smiles and laughter in their mouths as they hung the jars on the weeping willow.

Bella had once resented herself for never seeking Rosalie out.

For never saying goodbye.

But she was here and it took all of the werecat's strength not to burst into tears and throw herself into Rosalie's arms.

I missed you so much.

Now, Rosalie's eyes were gold, but nothing else had changed. She was still as heartbreakingly beautiful as she had always been.

With her statuesque figure and her sharp cheekbones and her red lips and–

"You belong to me, and I belong to you."

The werecat was glad she was holding her breath, or else her heart would be hammering in her chest and her position would be given away.

We've always belonged together. Always.

Ever since they were children, Bella had never been able to stay away. She had teased her in school before they were friends, disliking the way Rosalie had made her heart flutter in her chest and her stomach churn.

And when they became friends, Bella had fallen in love with her so quickly it was startling.

She had fallen in love with her before she even knew what that meant.

You came back to me. You came home.

"You'd really marry me?"

Bella froze, awakened from her stupor when reality set in.

"Why can't you get it through your thick skull that a life with you is impossible!"

And with all the love that came rushing back to the surface, came resentment.

She doesn't love me. She never loved me...but we're mated.

Bella wanted to run.

She wanted to run to the Denali's. She wanted Ir–

"We won't cause any problems, I assure you. My children will be attending Forks University." Carlisle told them. "And I'll be working as a doctor in town. Esme will be–"

"I don't care," Sam said. "This is still our land. We will allow you to stay, so long as you aid us in protecting humanity."

Rosalie kept staring at Sam and Billy, face stoic, but eyes widened by a fraction. No doubt she saw the resemblances and remembered the last names.

Did you miss us? How will you feel when you find out they're...

Bella tore her eyes off her mate, fighting back the grief and ignoring the longing she felt to be back in Rosalie's arms.

You used me to warm your bed.

Anger and anguish mixed with adoration, making Bella's heartache and her jaw clench.

Jasper's brow furrowed, his sharp gaze looked around the clearing, and Bella tensed as she watched him carefully.

Get it together.

Billy noticed the vampire and addressed their leader before he could respond to Sam's demand. "And as for your family, we need to know of their abilities." He eyed them warily. "We need to know everything before we create a treaty."

"I expect you'll tell us everything in return?" Rosalie questioned, and her voice nearly made Bella inhale sharply.

Beautiful. Just as it's always been.

But it sounded different. It lacked feeling.

It was cold.

Jake's wolf growled quietly at that and only quieted once he got a look from his father.

Billy then addressed Rosalie. "All you need to know about us is that we don't harm gold eyes. The rest you will learn in time...if you are deemed trustworthy."

The blonde softened ever so slightly and she gave him a nod. "Alright." This seemed to surprise her family, all but Edward, who shifted so he was closer to his sister. Their arms brushed against each other, and Rosalie relaxed as she looked into Jake's eyes. "Billy, am I correct in guessing this one is your child?"

Sam watched her suspiciously while Billy's eyebrows raised. "That's...that's my son, yes."

"He has your eyes." She murmured, tearing her gaze away from the wolf and looking at Billy. "Whatever you ask of us, we'll comply."

Eleanor chuckled and elbowed her arm. "Hey, who died and made you coven leader?"

But Rosalie didn't respond to her sister, instead, she turned to Sam. "I was friends with Levi Uley," she looked at Billy, "Ephraim Black, Lucy and Chilali Clearwater, and Gene Lahote." She hesitated before saying, "And Charles and Bella Swan, as well as Aya and Mary Alice Brandon."

Thankfully, Edward didn't seem to be picking up on any thoughts that indicated their whereabouts.

Paul's wolf tilted his head to the side in slight confusion. Sam was staring at Rosalie in disbelief. And Seth's tail thumped on the forest floor while Leah and Jake looked at Billy, waiting for an explanation.

Billy seemed stunned. "Oh...you're that Rosalie."

Aya and her stories.

Bella suppressed her growl.

If she had had it her way, none of her nieces and nephews would know anything about Rosalie.

Carlisle stepped back, allowing his daughter to move forward and speak on his behalf. "I am." For a moment, emotion welled in gold eyes. "They were all very good friends to me. They were..." but just as quickly, gold eyes turned cold and her voice became hollow. "And because of that, we will agree to whatever it is you ask of us."

Bella's lip curled into a sneer as Billy and Sam laid down the rules for the treaty.

Because, after years of agonizing over the love of her life, she was back. And she had the audacity to bring up Bella's family when she had turned her back on them so quickly.

I see you're still good at schmoozing and getting what you want.

But Bella wouldn't let Rosalie have it easy.

She and Rosalie were mates, but that in no way meant Rosalie was forgiven for what she did.

She abandoned me. She made Aya cry. She made me…

For decades Bella fantasized about how she would get back at Rosalie, almost as much as she fantasized about being with Rosalie–

She's here now. She doesn't know I'm alive.

She wondered if Rosalie even cared.

The rational part of Bella knew that she did, but she was angry and hurt and Rosalie deserved to hurt just like she did.

I'll drive you crazy. I'll make you sorry you ever forgot about me.

The treaty was made, the meeting ended, and when the vampires left Bella made it clear that not a word of Rosalie's appearance would be uttered to Ephraim or Aya.

Billy and Harry looked doubtful. "You know what Rosalie meant to them…we know what she means to you. Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Paul, as always, had his aunt's back. "Fuck her." He growled, crossing his arms over his chest and garnering the approval of most of his packmates.

Embry and Seth looked unsure, hesitant, but they had always been softhearted.

Seth was very much like Lucy in that way. Except, instead of hiding his gentle nature as Lucy had, he wore his heart on his sleeve.

Embry had the emotional maturity of Levi, whereas his half-brother, Sam, had Levi's more serious and stern personality. Something that Embry and Sam's father, Joshua, lacked.

Billy sighed, "Alright. I'll let my father know how everything went." He looked at Harry. "Charlie's at work. But gran should be at the clinic with Shaman Dyami. We need a written agreement of the treaty, something binding. And we'll have the entire coven sign it."

Harry nodded, "I'll see to it that it's done."

"No. Just inform Aya and Shaman Dyami of the treaty. Have Joshua write it up." Billy instructed, sounding mildly exasperated as he said, "He's still the Beta, whether he wants to be or not."

"Are you sure that's a good idea–"

"He didn't attend either meeting, despite promising to be at both of them. He needs to carry his weight."

Sam growled. "Probably passed out drunk."

Leah grimaced, gently taking her friend's hand in hers, while Embry gave his brother a comforting look. Both interactions calmed the future Beta down, but it was clear he was still aggravated.

Amelia bristled at his remark. "Leave it alone, Sam."

The Beta whirled on her in an instant. "Know your place, Amelia. He's not your father, he's mine. And I can say whatever I damn well please!"

This again.

The little feud between Sam and Amelia had been going on for years.

Bella knew better than to intervene. Most times, she let the pack figure out their issues on their own.

She was their aunt.

Not their babysitter.

Embry interjected himself between the trembling shifters. "This isn't productive. Stop, please." Sam didn't back down, and Jake grabbed Amelia's hand in his.

"Let's go for a run, or something–"

"No." Authority rang in Billy's voice, garnering the younger wolves' attention. "Sam, we've talked about this." Sam clenched his jaw and took a step back.

Harry looked displeased, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. "Your anger is understandable. But he's still your father."

Charlie, Billy, and Harry had been the fatherly figures that Embry and Sam had needed in their lives.

But Sam had always struggled with his resentment towards Joshua, especially when it was discovered that he had cheated on his mother with Tiffany Call.

Sam looked as though he were about to argue when Bella interjected. "Happy thoughts, Sammy. Just think, after your patrol, you'll get to go see Emily."

Leah gave his hand a squeeze before pulling away. "It's still so weird to see you with my cousin." Emily and Leah were so close that they were practically sisters.

Sam and Leah had been childhood best friends, and despite the initial awkwardness that came with Sam's imprint, they all knew that Leah was happy for him.

And both shifters were excited at the prospect of them becoming family once Sam married Emily.

The Beta sighed, shooting a mock glare at Leah before turning to his aunt. "Yeah. Okay."

Billy gave Bella a grateful look before addressing Harry. "I want you to look over Joshua as he writes the treaty. Make sure everything is correct before we present it to the Cullens."

"Done."

And with that, the older shifters burst into their wolves and left the clearing.

Leaving the younger pack alone, and Bella's thoughts once again became consumed with–

"Hey," Paul placed a hand on her shoulder, calming her instantly. "I know all that stuff with…her is hard. Just let us know if you need anything."

Her nieces and nephews voiced their agreement and Bella swallowed thickly as she patted her boy's hand. "Thanks, kid. That means a lot." She looked at her family. "All of your support means a lot." Not wanting to get emotional, she said, "You're still a bunch of jackasses, though. So don't think I'm going all soft just because Rosalie's back."

Even saying that sentence nearly brought tears to her eyes.

Sam smiled at her. "Do what you need to, aunt Bella. We'll back you up."

"Always." Amelia chimed in, ignoring the annoyed glance that Sam sent her.

Jake furrowed his brow. "I'm all for revenge, but how would you get it?"

"By ignoring her, obviously." Jared snorted, slinging an arm around Embry's shoulders. "Girls hate being ignored."

Leah put a hand on her hip and raised an unamused brow. "And how would you know?" Jared didn't so much as spare a glance in her direction.

Instead, he looked at his nails, as though he were bored, and earned a solid punch to the shoulder.

"Ow! What the fuck–"

"Answer my question!"

Sam huffed out a laugh and Embry gave Leah a reprimanding look as he rubbed his imprint's shoulder. "Did you have to hit him?"

"He acted like I didn't even say anything!"

Amelia smirked at her. "So, he proved your point."

Leah fumed silently at this while Jared rolled his eyes. "Exactly. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I don't know women."

"I didn't doubt your assumption because you're gay." Leah shot back. "I doubted you because you're a moron in general."

Paul looked at his friend with an amused smile. "She got you there."

"Fuck off, you ass."

Seth frowned. "I think everyone hates being ignored." The fourteen year old mused. "It hurts my feelings."

Jared smiled, ruffling Seth's hair as he said, "Okay, you're right. Everyone hates being ignored." He then looked at his aunt. "So, what's the plan?"

Rosalie always did hate when I was mad at her. Or when I gave her the silent treatment.

Though, Bella would usually shout at her friend whenever she was upset, because very rarely did she hold in her emotions when she was displeased.

But I wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.

Because no matter how angry she was at Rosalie, she had never been able to deny her.

Instead, a new plan formed.

One Bella would be able to pull off, for a time.

She was going to show Rosalie that she had moved on. She was going to show her that she was just fine without her.

I don't need her. I never needed her. She was only holding me back.

For years she had run around as Rosalie's little sidekick.

Outside of her family, Bella was always the nuisance, she was always the wild child, and Rosalie was the angel that kept her in check.

My father had once asked her to look over me. To make sure I wouldn't lose control. To make sure I would do as I was told.

It had given Rosalie a savior complex. She always wanted to protect Bella, when Bella had been perfectly fine protecting herself.

I was alone for ten years. And I was just fine before she showed up.

It had taken Bella years to realize that her friend had only ever held her back.

Rosalie had never loved her.

She had only loved feeling needed.

She had only loved dragging Bella around in order to showcase her superiority.

She had only loved controlling Bella and making sure she 'behaved.' Because no one had been able to soothe her like Rosalie had, and it had always left people impressed that Bella could be tamed at all.

Rosalie had always been the perfect one.

The golden child, the teacher's pet, the one all the boys had been in love with.

Rosalie had always been the strong one.

Protecting her from bullies and rumors and nightmares–

Not anymore. I'll show that little golden child exactly who I am, and how strong I am without her.

The werecat smirked, allowing her tail to disappear as she held her bracelet up. She had stopped wearing it around the Rez years ago on behest of her eldest brother.

Now, she only wore it around outsiders. And now, she had the perfect reason to wear it again.

"I'm going to school."

---

When Rosalie saw Bella again the world stopped.

A treaty had been formed between the shifters and the vampires, one she would follow without question, and in a few days, they would meet with the shifters again to sign the treaty they created.

It's the least I can do, especially after everything their ancestors have done for me.

The Cullens would have their own territory to call their own, but the shifters were allowed to patrol their territory if they saw fit.

The Cullens could not venture into shifter territory unless it was an emergency. The shifters didn't want to risk the well-being of their people on the reservation, and the vampires respected their caution.

There were a few more rules and guidelines, some do's and don't's, and she believed it to be a fair treaty.

Rosalie could care less about what happened to the humans. And paying the shifters monthly, no matter the amount, was more than doable.

All she had been able to focus on was Sam and Billy.

Sam Uley. He looks so much like Levi. And Billy Black...he has Ephraim's eyes and his voice.

Seeing them had nearly brought her to her knees.

All of the shifters bore the eyes of their ancestors.

Rosalie had been waiting for Sam and Billy to recognize her, despite having never met them.

She had been waiting for the loving greetings of Charles and Aya.

She had been waiting for the wolves to shift into their human forms.

She had been waiting for Ephraim and Levi to show themselves, casting her their mischievous smiles and wrapping her in those warm hugs she had always loved.

She had been waiting for Gene and Chilali to appear from behind them, both laughing loudly as they ran to greet her.

She had been waiting for Mary Alice to arrive, dragging a begrudging Lucy with her to come to see Rosalie.

She had been waiting for Bella.

She had been waiting for her wide smirks and catty greeting before her friend dropped the act and jumped in her arms.

She had been waiting and waiting and waiting...

For nothing.

Rosalie had fought back her fond memories and her tears.

Because she was winter.

She was unyielding, and these strangers would not see her fall apart.

And when she returned to the safety of her new room, then and only then, did she allow herself to break.

Ice melted.

She looked at the photo from her sixteenth birthday and let herself thaw.

But only for a moment.

She had to reconcile the fact that none of those wolves were the Swan children.

And Edward hadn't read any thoughts that mentioned them.

Ephraim, Chilali, Levi, Gene, Lucy, Bella.

They really are gone.

She had known that, but she had never allowed herself to think of them as...

Dead.

Rosalie could no longer listen to Ephraim's words of wisdom or laugh at Chilali's dry sense of humor.

They're...they're really dead.

She could no longer ride on Levi's back or count the stars with Gene.

They were all so strong. They seemed invincible. How could they be dead?

She could no longer dance around with Mary Alice or play cards with Lucy.

Mary Alice...did they get her out of that hospital? Did she die in there? Why didn't I go after her? Why didn't I–

Rosalie's throat tightened. She wouldn't let herself think about that.

Not now.

They moved on with their lives. They had children and grandchildren and they grew old and they...get a grip. They moved on. So should you.

No longer would she get to catch fireflies with Bella or see smug smiles or hear her high pitched cackles or kiss her soft lips–

I didn't get to say goodbye.

Vampirism had given her the freedom to choose.

But with each passing year, she had grown to resent the immortality it gave her.

I said goodbye to my mother. I said goodbye to Andrea. But...

She had been too cowardly to seek Bella out. Too ashamed of her cruelty towards the woman she had been in love with.

I never deserved her.

Bella had never been ashamed of the love they shared.

She would have done anything for Rosalie, and they both knew that. But Rosalie had been too scared to leave with her.

And she would never curse Bella with vampirism, especially if they weren't mates.

But what if we were?

It didn't matter now, she supposed. It was too late for regrets. It was too late to mourn the loss of her second family.

The selfish part of her would have changed everyone in order to keep them forever.

It's better this way. They were able to live out their lives and move on.

And yet, just as she always did when she was saddened by the past, she couldn't help but long to be in Aya's arms.

I'm sorry, Aya. Your Rosebud didn't bloom. She withered.

She wondered what Aya and Charles would think of her now.

Would they be proud of who I became? Scared? Disappointed?

Maybe it was too late for regrets, but Rosalie thinks she would always hate herself for never coming to say goodbye.

After everything they've done for me...they deserved so much more. They deserved better.

Memories of the Swans and the Brandons swirled in her head.

Memories of all the love they had given her.

I'm sorry I wasn't better.

"I don't know why you're upset. But I'm sorry you are." Edward offered, too quiet for the human ear to hear, not looking up from his notebook as he prepared to take notes.

Except, he did know why she was upset, and he didn't push. Because, like Carlisle and Esme, Edward knew her better than anyone.

Almost, better than anyone.

The Swans and Brandons had all the Cullens beat, and she–

Rosalie nearly crushed her pen in her tight grip, forcing herself to take a deep breath before she turned to her brother.

Edward hadn't been lurking in her mind, and she loved him for that.

But she was upset, and therefore she would not acknowledge Edward's growth or his concern for her.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm only annoyed because I'm cramped in here with all these revolting humans." She growled quietly, glaring at the boy that attempted to sit next to her. "I don't care if all the seats in this lecture hall are taken. Sit on the floor." The boy made a flustered noise, face burning red as he quickly found a different seat.

Edward's chuckle drew her attention. "He was going to ask for your number."

"All he would have received is a bruised ego."

Her phone vibrated, as did Edward's, and she didn't have to look at it to know it was a text from Eleanor.

No doubt something obnoxious.

But she read it anyway.

Eleanor: First day of school! Let's GOOOOOOOO

Jasper: I'm glad you're excited

Eleanor: Pumped! Can't w8 to check out the gym! Should i stay in a dorm this year?

Rosalie: None of us care

Jasper: I care

Edward: As do I. Please, tell us the pros and cons of living in a dormitory so we can help you decide.

Eleanor: Awwww ur all so sweet

Rosalie: I don't want to see the pros and cons list, Eleanor. I already told you, I don't care

Edward: She does. She's right next to me. Caring.

Jasper: Edward's telling the truth, I can feel how much she cares

Eleanor: :D

Rosalie: They're obviously lying to you

Eleanor: :(

Eleanor: Its ok u don't have to act tough! i know u secretly care!

Eleanor: Ok!

Eleanor: Pros!

Eleanor: Pillow fights! Pretty girls!

Eleanor: ;)

Rosalie: Stop.

Edward: Friends to study with.

Eleanor: Ur right! Thx Ed! Study buddies!

Eleanor: Um...give me a sec i need to think

Jasper: Take your time

Edward: We'll try and think of our own pros and cons to help.

Rosalie cast a glare at her brother, who bore a small smile as he stared at his phone. "I swear, you only live to spite me."

"That I do." He glanced up at her. "I don't need to be a mind reader to know that Eleanor would really appreciate your help. Even for something as trivial as this."

She rolled her eyes. "If she wasn't Vera's daughter I'd..." a scoff escaped her and she tucked her phone away. "I'm not creating some ridiculous pros and cons list. Eleanor is staying with the family. Just as she always has."

"Would it be so difficult for you to thaw that icy heart for the sake of our sister?" Edward implored, leaning back in his seat and smiling politely at the human girl that sat next to him.

Her face turned a bright red and Rosalie rolled her eyes when she heard the girl's heartbeat hammer in her chest.

If my eunuch of a brother didn't find me attractive, there's no hope for you.

Which, she knew, was a ridiculous thing to think. Never had she wanted Edward to find her appealing, she already knew she was gorgeous, but it would be somewhat insulting if he were to fall for a plain Jane human girl.

She felt his presence slip into her mind and she scowled, about to snap at him only to pause when she saw the grimace on his face.

Disturbing thoughts?

He nodded, turning back to look at his notebook and shift away from the human.

Rosalie couldn't help but clench her jaw, leaning forward slightly to glare at the girl. "Do you find enjoyment in making everyone around you uncomfortable?" She all but growled, making the girl's eyes widen in disbelief. "Are you a rabid dog?" When the girl didn't answer she reached over, snapping her fingers in her face and saying, "That wasn't rhetorical."

The girl jumped in surprise, mouth still agape as she said, "N-No I just–"

"No. You're not a rabid dog. And yet there you sit, foaming at the mouth." Gold eyes narrowed. "My brother is too polite to say this to you, but I'm not. Stop staring, and close your mouth, lest you drench the belongings of the students in the front row with your copious amounts of drool."

The girl nodded, heart now racing for another reason as she quickly shut her mouth and stared straight ahead.

Better?

Edward nodded, and said too quietly for human ears, "Thank you, but did you have to be so rude–"

"You could have stopped at 'thank you', Edward." She leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. "I would do anything to keep you out of my head. You know that."

Just as he knew that Rosalie's reason for scolding the girl wasn't only because she wanted him out of her head.

She cared. They both knew that. But seldom was she honest about it.

Rosalie had shared enough vulnerability with the Cullens to last her a lifetime. They didn't always need to know how deep her love for them was.

They knew her. They knew that she had to protect herself, despite feeling safe with her family.

Because, no matter how much she loved them, they could never take the place of–

Shut. Up.

She clenched her jaw, glaring down at her blank notebook paper as the students around them began to settle in their seats.

It made her wonder if she would ever be able to let them go.

But how could she?

Before the Swans and Brandons, it was her mother and Andrea that had showed her what it meant to be a part of a family.

But Charles and Aya and Ephraim and–

The scent of a vampire made the siblings freeze.

"Well, it's nice to meet ya. I'm Alice." The voice came from outside the room, near the double doors of the room.

Rosalie's eyes widened.

Mary Alice...could she actually...is she...

Rosalie lost all composure, whipping her head around and nearly gasping at the sight of her old friend.

Mary Alice looked just as she had the summer her father had taken her away.

She was still short, with short black curls that went a little past her ears. Her smooth dark skin was perfected by vampirism, and gold eyes glowed brightly as they looked around the room.

She moved fluidly, graceful steps looking reminiscent of a ballerina. Her smile was wide and as bright as her yellow sundress.

Mary Alice reminded Rosalie of a Disney princess, with her pretty voice and perfect facial features. She looked as though if she were to sing, animals would flock to her, and the forest would quiet just to hear her voice.

Oddly enough, she had two tattoos.

Vampires can't have tattoos.

One that was of gold deer antlers on her right wrist. And the other was a vine of small sunflowers that wrapped around her neck.

Vivid images of the painting flashed through her mind.

Sunflowers. Aya and Mary Alice smiling. Happiness.

She blinked, tearing her gaze away from her old friend in order to put her stressed mind at ease.

Next to Mary Alice was...

"Bella." Rosalie breathed, watching as the two girls walked closer.

She looked just as beautiful as the day she left Rochester.

Rugged and disheveled in a way that only she could make attractive.

Her shirt was a red crop top, exposing her lean stomach and belly-button piercing. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing a black bracelet with a red cane pendant.

Her jeans were a dull blue, faded from too much wear, and ripped across the knees. Her sneakers were a dingy red, well worn, and scuffed. Her backpack was slung over one shoulder, and she wore a black baseball cap atop her long brown hair.

But, unlike the Bella she knew, she bore only one tattoo.

Like Mary Alice, it was around her neck, a vine of small yellow alstroemerias. They looked as though they could be matching.

And when grey eyes met gold, Rosalie felt the world around them begin to dissolve.

It was as though nothing else mattered.

Only Bella.

It had always been Bella.

It would only ever be Bella.

Everything clicked into place. Everything finally felt right, after so many years of wrong.

And for the first time in decades, Rosalie felt grateful to be a vampire.

If just for that one moment of falling in love with her best friend all over again.

"Did you just…" she could feel Edward's eyes boring holes into the back of her head, but Rosalie paid him no mind.

Bella. It's always been her.

But, as Bella looked at her, Rosalie saw no recognition in her stormy colored eyes. Instead, she was given a mere glance before the brunette looked around for a place to sit.

Mary Alice also didn't seem to recognize Rosalie, only pausing to give Edward and Rosalie a wary glance before she fell back into step with Bella.

Edward stared at Mary Alice with a furrowed brow before turning to Rosalie in alarm. "I...I can't read them."

...

Rosalie didn't know what was happening.

She didn't know why Edward couldn't read their thoughts.

She didn't know where Bella's tattoos went, or why Mary Alice had tattoos in the first place.

She didn't know what creature Bella was, because she didn't have the wretched stench of wet dog that the shifters had. But she knew that it was something that gave her immortality if she still looked like an eighteen year old.

And she didn't know why Mary Alice and Bella were ignoring her.

Or why Mary Alice introduced herself to Bella as though she didn't know who she was.

But she was determined to find out.

Bella and Mary Alice had left the class early, with Bella having had remained silent the whole time.

But as luck would have it they had the same biology class.

Bella walked in late, all but scowling at her flip phone as she entered the room.

A flip phone?

There was an available seat next to Rosalie, because she would be damned if she had to do a lab with any of the humans. And when Bella walked in she hadn't been able to take her eyes off of her.

Their teacher said nothing about Bella's late arrival, only uttering to take a syllabus on the way to her seat.

She nodded, stuffing her phone into her pocket and grabbing a syllabus from him before glancing around the room.

For the second time that day, she made eye contact with Rosalie. And for the second time that day, Rosalie noticed that there was no spark of recognition in her eyes.

Bella seemed to mull over her options for a moment since there were other seats still available, but in the end, she came and sat next to Rosalie.

She smelled like strawberries mixed with a more woodsy scent.

Rosalie thinks that, if her heart was still beating, it would have exploded out of her chest.

I love you. I never stopped loving you. I wanted to find you. I just…

Bella didn't look at her as she placed her bag on the floor and rested her hand on her chin.

She looks bored.

This made Rosalie bristle.

"Bella." She spoke quietly as the teacher droned on about the syllabus.

She looked at her with a frown. "Huh?"

Even her voice sounded the same. And Rosalie would have marveled at it, had her old friend not been aggravating her.

"Are you really going to ignore me?"

This earned her a raised brow and grey eyes did a disinterested once over. "I have never seen you before in my life."

What?

"And my name is Ella. Ella Swan. Not Bella."

Oh for the love of god.

Rosalie narrowed her eyes. "You're so full of shit. I know it's you." She tried to look at her ear, but it was obscured by her hair.

Bella, yes, Bella, because Rosalie refused to refer to her as her made-up name, rolled her eyes. "Okaaay, blondie. Whatever you say." She shrugged, glancing at their teacher before an exasperated sigh escaped her. "Look, I just moved here from Arizona. And I definitely would have remembered you." She gestured at her. "You're so pale. Most people there are at least a burnt orange color."

You little shit.

"You're pale too." She hissed.

"Yeah, but I at least have pink cheeks. You're just...okay, I'm white, but you're white. Like an eggshell."

Only Bella had ever been able to make her get so frustrated she became flustered.

For a second, that's exactly what happened.

But only for a second.

"Don't give yourself too much credit. You're practically a marshmallow wearing blush."

Before Bella could retort, their professor cleared his throat loudly. "Ladies, if you could give me five minutes of your time, that would be wonderful. We'll be doing our icebreakers then, not now."

The two glared at each other but remained silent until it was time for icebreakers.

Rosalie couldn't help but glance at Bella as their professor droned on and on.

The necklace.

It was a gold chain, but the pendent was tucked in Bella's shirt.

The golden rose...did you keep it?

Rosalie wanted to ask, but as she looked down the list of ice breakers, she couldn't help but avoid the question.

Coward.

"Favorite tv show."

"I don't watch tv."

"Favorite food."

Bella shrugged, and Rosalie clenched her jaw as she read down the short list she was given.

It was always the smaller courses that had ridiculous activities such as this. But she had taken advanced biology to avoid the larger lecture halls and the slower pace of average biology.

"What do you like to do in your free time."

"Take a hike."

This is absurd.

Surely, Bella was punishing her. And perhaps she deserved it after all the pain she caused. But this charade had gone on long enough.

I missed you.

Rosalie swallowed her pride. Given how tenuous their relationship currently was, she knew she would have to tread lightly.

"I know you're mad at me. You have every right to be upset with how I left things–"

Bella frowned at her. "That isn't on the list. What are you getting at?" She looked genuinely confused and the vampire couldn't help but falter.

What if she's Bella's descendent? What if I was wrong this whole time?

Sam looked like Levi. And Billy and his son had Ephraim's eyes. What if this was the case for this girl?

She looked and smelled and sounded human. But there were many different creatures that were good at hiding in plain sight, and she could be one of them.

Shifters existed. Magic existed.

Aya had been magical but Rosalie didn't know what she was. Perhaps her magic preserved Bella's immortality

Because this had to be Bella.

It couldn't be anyone else.

She looked exactly as she did all those years ago, down to the grey eyes and the curl of her lip.

Her mannerisms hadn't changed.

The way she lounged in her seat and rapped her nails against the table. Or how she would smirk whenever she made Rosalie frustrated. And her high-pitched cackle was the exact same as it was back in Rochester.

This had to be Bella.

But what if it isn't?

The brunette gave an annoyed huff and snatched the sheet from Rosalie. "Whatever. Let me ask you some questions."

The blonde bristled at this. "Are you always so obnoxious?"

Bella had always been a great actress, even as a child. So what if that's what this was? An act? A role she's playing in order to torture Rosalie?

Humans could feel the pull of the mate bond, not as powerfully as vampires did, but enough to draw them to their mate. Whatever Bella was, regardless of her species, she would be drawn to Rosalie in a similar way.

Why else would she be acting so indifferent? If this wasn't Bella, she would have been openly ogling over me. Instead, she's ignoring me out of spite.

"You already asked your questions. And that one isn't on the list, anyway." She smirked, skimming down the questions before asking, "Where were you born?"

What if she's really just a descendent. What if I'm wrong?

"New York."

Her eyebrows raised. "New York, huh? Yeah, you look the type."

"And that means?"

"Rich with servants."

But what if it is her? But what if it is? She was even with Mary Alice. But what if Mary Alice had found Bella's descendent and intended to turn her? Or–

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Rosalie asked, eyes narrowed and lips pursed.

A flicker of amusement danced in grey eyes. "Just an observation. I can tell by your clothes that you're a rich kid." She looked down at her sheet again. "Favorite song?"

"I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me."

This made Bella hesitate, but she didn't look up from the paper. "Old school, huh? Which version?"

Yours.

"Billie Holiday."

The smallest smile played on her lips as she glanced at Rosalie. "That's my mom's favorite too."

Your mom? Who is she? What's her name?

Bella had hated her mother, for good reason, but this Bella seemed fond of her mother.

She could be talking about Aya. She always loved that song.

Class dismissed and the students began gathering their belongings.

Rosalie lingered, watching Bella curiously as she crammed all her notes into her bag.

"Are you always so careless with your things?"

The brunette looked up at her with a bemused brow. "What are you, a cop? Is this an investigation?" She snorted and continued shoving her things into her backpack. "You look like you were a hall monitor in elementary school, blondie."

She decided to test it.

"I had to be when there were ruffians like you running around. You look like the type to run into people because of your carelessness and your disregard for the wellbeing of others."

This earned her a snort. "Whatever."

Maybe this really isn't Bella. Maybe she moved on and settled down. Maybe she had kids and–

Bella slung her backpack over her shoulder and gave Rosalie a sarcastic wave. "Later, princess."

She watched with wide eyes as the girl sauntered out of the room, and if she still had the ability to blush, she thinks she would have.

That little shit.

AN: 68k I'm so tired pls just let me die.

Poorly edited but I really tried. I'll go back and do that when I re-read it and get annoyed by any problems I find.

I'm tired, don't feel like responding to reviews ;_;

I got this done a day before my bday so for my gifts I want reviews pls and thank you :D

Happy Black History Month, LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I love you all! Take care of yourselves!