"I can't believe I'm driving a 1906 Reo Runabout through the drive through of an In-N-Out burger." Rosalie said as she handed the three take out bags full of burgers to Bella.
"Be glad we didn't take Emmett with us. There was no way he was fitting on these seats." Bella said already halfway through the first burger.
Rosalie gave Bella a guilty look. "You should have told me you were hungry. We could have fed you a long time ago."
"Ehh. I ate some rations in the secured wing and then when we got to the cars you were having to much fun to pull you away." Bella told her around a mouth full of hamburger.
Rosalie reached over and wiped some ketchup from the side of Bella's mouth."I appreciate you wanting to make me happy but you can't neglect your basic needs Bella. If you don't eat then you lack energy and without that how can you protect me let alone yourself?"
"You're right I'm sorry. Want to go to a park and finish this food and spend some time together." Bella asked.
"Yes it would be nice to have no interruptions for a little while. Are parks open after dark here?" Rosalie asked turning onto a road Bella pointed out.
"This one is. It even has a lake that you can see the stars reflect off of. There are many places to find privacy there."
Rosalie raised an eyebrow." And why would we need privacy Miss. Shurlong?"
"Because of this." Bella said holding up her glowing hand."Moonlight remember. I turn into a glow stick"
"Oh yeah I totally forgot." Rosalie said.
"I wouldn't be opposed to finding privacy for other reasons though." Bella told her as she reach over grabbing Rosalie's thigh causing Rosalie to jerk the steering wheel.
"Jesus!" Rosalie moaned." You can't do that stuff while I'm driving. We may be indestructible but this car isn't."
Bella held her hands up."I'm keeping my hands to myself. I promise. Pull in here."
Rosalie pulled into a paved parking lot and parked the car as far away from other cars as possible. "Do you think it will be alright to leave the car here?"
Bella got out and grabbed the take out bag." It's fine. If someone tries to steal it we both would hear the motor and could stop them quite easily."
Rosalie reached out for Bella's free hand."That doesn't give me confidence in the car being ok."
Bella tugged Rosalie away from the car. "Come on let's go have a beautiful moonlight picnic."
Rosalie dragged her feet a little bit as she kept glancing back at the car."Fine but if something happens to that car I'm going to be pissed. We will never be able to find another one with all original parts in that condition."
"Calm down. Nothing is going to happen to the car. Focus on how much you love me."
Rosalie smiled at Bella. "I do love you."
Bella stopped them in a clearing well off the walking path. "I know you do. So how about we sit down and I will throughly impress you with how many hamburgers I can eat in one sitting."
Rosalie sat down on the grass pulling Bella to sit in between her stretched out legs. "Your many appetites always impress me."
"Why do I feel like we aren't talking about food anymore?" Bella asked shivering when she felt Rosalie place soft kisses on her neck.
"Because we're not.Now finish your hamburgers so we can both enjoy desert." Rosalie told her placing one final kiss on her cheek and leaning back so Bella could eat.
"Do you think you ever want to try eating real food to see if you can digest it?" Bella asked.
Rosalie thought about it."Food doesn't smell appealing to me. If anything now that I've tasted your blood it smells even more revolting."
"What does my blood taste like?"
Rosalie thought about it for a minute."I've never had human or shifter blood before so I don't have much to compare it to. It didn't have much of a taste it was more like an injection of feelings. It was like I could feel your power as it entered my body. It was overwhelming my senses. It was like an electric stock went straight through my veins towards my heart."
"What was it like when your heart started beating again?" Bella asked finishing off the last of her food.
Rosalie pulled Bella back against her so she was holding her from behind. "I thought I had been shot. It was like I was hit so hard in the chest that my heart was being pushed out of my body. The all of a sudden the feeling went away and all that was left was the soft thudding of my heartbeat."
Bella laid her head over Rosalie's chest. Hearing the slow thudding was extremely relaxing and she now understood why Rosalie took such comfort in it. Just as she was about to comment on it something alerted her senses.
Jumping up to her feet Bella pulled Rosalie behind her. When Rosalie opened her mouth to question what was wrong she motioned for Rosalie to be quite.
Seconds later Rosalie heard what startled Bella. Something was coming towards them and by the smell it was a vampire. An unfamiliar vampire.
"I should have known better than to try and sneak up on the great white tiger." A female voice said.
Rosalie watched as a woman walked out of the tree line. Her hair was red and wild with curls going every which way. She was about Rosalie's height with a small build. Rosalie growled when the woman gave Bella a once over and smiled indicating she like what she saw.
"There is no need for that.I'm not here to fight." The woman held up her hands in front of her."My name's Victoria and I've come to seek an audience with the great white tiger."
Rosalie crouch in front of Bella ready to attack."What do you want with my mate?"
"I simply wish to pass on information." Victoria said her calmness putting Rosalie even more on edge.
"What information do you have for me?" Bella asked taking a step forward only to have Rosalie hold her back.
"It's about an army that is being formed to hunt your family." Victoria said keeping an eye on Rosalie.
"How do you know of this?" Rosalie demanded.
"My sire James was approached by one of your coven mates. Edward is his name."
Rosalie's lip curled at the mention of Edward. They had suspected he was behind the newborn army but this woman seemed to be able to confirm it.
"Why are you talking to us if it is your sire who is building this army?" Bella asked confused. From what she knew of vampires they had unwavering loyalty to their sires and would go out of their way to protect them.
"James is extremely sadistic. I've been trying to get away from him for decades. The problem is he is a tracker. A very good one. So even if I were to run he would always be able to find me."
"So you've come to me for protection." Bella said realizing Victoria's intent.
"I've heard whispers of the great white tiger. How you are going to be the savior of all supernatural races. I always thought it was a myth until Edward showed up telling us a story of an albino teenage girl who turned into a white tiger and was stronger than all of his coven put together. I had hoped that I could find you and offer my assistance in exchange for protection from James."
Rosalie looked at Bella."You can't seriously be considering letting her help us? We don't know her."
"Jasper could tell us of her intent and I have a gut feeling we will want her around. She has a gift. I'm not sure what it is but it's powerful." Bella whisper low enough for only Rosalie to hear.
Rosalie eyed Victoria. With her new enhancements she could easily take the woman if it came to a fight and Bella could crush her even in human form so as long as they were in the same room as her the rest of the family would be aright.
"You can come with us to meet the rest of our family. After you tell us what information you have we will discuss giving you protection." Rosalie saw Bella nod in agreement.
"We have a car we need to drive back but meet us at the Shurlong estate." Bella said collecting her garbage and making her way with Rosalie back to the car as Victoria took off running through the woods.
"What do you think about all this?" Rosalie asked Bella once they got on the road and headed for the estate.
"I think this the first of many great battles I'm going to face and I'm going need all the allies I can get."
Rosalie grabbed Bella's hand and squeezed it. "We're going to face, not you. We are in this together."
"Together?"Bella asked
"Together." Rosalie agreed.