As Rosalie reached across the table with her napkin to wipe some steak sauce off of Bella's lips, she couldn't remember ever being so relaxed. They had spent the day exploring Seattle without a care in the world. Looking at Bella now she almost had to pinch herself to make sure the day had been real. It was exactly what they both needed. Even Bella laughed more freely and seemed to smile more. It was easy to forget they didn't have so much pressure and responsible resting on their shoulders.
"I had a good time today, did you?" Bella asked her.
"I had a great time. I wish we could stay an extra night, but I understand the need to get back." Rosalie said.
"I know what you mean. It's been like we are existing in a whole different world." Bell sighed. "It makes me want to start our life together right away. I don't look forward to living with Charlie again without you there."
"Please don't remind me." Rosalie pleaded."I'm still pretending that isn't going to happen."
Bella reached for Rosalie's hand. "It just makes me realize that I need to tell Charlie. Our bond is more important than secrecy to me."
Rosalie frowned. "I don't want you to do anything rash. Telling him is a big step.I have no doubt your father loves you but there is no way to tell how someone will react to such news."
"Have you ever told anyone about you before?" Bella asked.
Rosalie thought for about it for a minute."Well, I wanted to tell you and I was trying to figure out how to do it but then your tiger got frisky with me and as they say the rest is history."
Bella raised a pale eyebrow."I got frisky with you?"
Rosalie smirked." Yes, the way I remember it was you came upon a poor defenseless me in the woods and you were so overcome with your attraction to me that you didn't even have a chance to shift before you made a move."
"That's what you think?"Rosalie nodded. "So we aren't going to mention you hunting the mountain lion?"
"The mountain lion that I now consider a part of my family? There would be no way I would ever hurt her." Rosalie said with feigned innocence.
"You consider her apart of your family?" Bella asked astonished.
"Of course I do." Rosalie said. "She's a cat."
Bella felt her eyes tearing up."I love you so much."
Rosalie wiped the tear from Bella's cheek."I love you too."
Bella took a sip of her water to give herself a moment to get her emotions under control."It means so much to me that you accept that cats are more than just animals to me."
Rosalie gave her a wink."I like cats remember?"
Bella chuckled. " I remember."
"If you are done, what do you say about going for a walk before we head home?" Rosalie asked noticing Bella's empty plate.
"That sounds good." Bella said standing up."Can you pay while I run to the bathroom?"
"You're ditching me and leaving me with the check aren't you?"Rosalie asked with a smile.
Bella kissed Rosalie's cheek. "You can afford it."
Rosalie sighed as she watched her walk away. If only they could do this more often. She had always hated having to pretend to be human and go through the motions of being a teenager, but it had never really bothered her all that much. It was the price to pay to be safe. Now though as she signed the check and made her way up to the front of the restaurant she never wanted anything more than to stop pretending. She wanted to start her life with Bella out in the open not having to worry about high school or wether or not Bella was home by curfew. How to make that happen, she wasn't sure but she was determined to figure it out.
"All set?" Bella asked coming to stand next to her.
Rosalie held the door open for Bella. "Yes, your meal is paid for."
Bella batted her eyelashes at Rosalie. "My perfect half gentleman treats me so well."
Rosalie grabbed Bella's hand and pulled her close."Some one has to protect your virtue."
"Are you saying I'm easy?" Bella asked.
"Welllll." Rosalie said ducking away from Bella's fingers as they tried to tickle her ribs.
"Ok, you may be right." Bella conceded."But only when it comes to you."
"I love that you are taller than me." Rosalie said as she put Bella's arm around her shoulder and snuggled close."It puts you at perfect height for me to get in a proper snuggle position."
Bella opened her mouth to reply only to be cut off by a scream coming from an alley two buildings down the street they were walking on. Not even waiting both she and Rosalie ran towards the sound. Bella hadn't noticed that the neighborhood they had been walking in had gotten seedier the further away from the restaurant they got. Coming up to the alley in less than a second Bella felt herself being pulled behind Rosalie's back. Looking towards the danger Bella saw what was obviously two vampires, one man and one who looked like no more than a girl, feeding on a man while a woman was running the other way.
Noticing they had company the girl took a couched position in front of the male vampire in a possesses manner. "Get back or you're next."
Rosalie growled causing both vampires to to look at her wide eyed. "Drop the man, surrender and your death will be painless."
Bella made a move to walk in front of Rosalie and when she stepped properly into the alley the male vampire gasp. "Shit Bree, it's her."
"Who?" The girl Bree asked.
"The one that Riley told us about. The white tiger." The male vampire said.
Bree stood and held her hands up."Look we don't want no trouble. This guy is a pimp. We were just trying to feed."
Bella looked a the pimp and couldn't tell if he was breathing."Is he dead?"
Bree kicked him causing him to let out a low moan."No."
"Then kill him before he changes." Bella told her.
Rosalie looked at Bella in surprise." Bella?
Bella shrugged her shoulders."What, he's a dirtbag. Do you really want that type of man becoming a vampire? Imagine what he would do to those women if he had all the vampire traits."
Rosalie sighed. "You're right. Drain him or kill him, just make sure he's doesn't change."
"Ladies first." The man said to Bree.
"That's ok Diego, I already ate. You go for it." Bree stood from her crouch."I'm Bree and this is Diego. We don't believe what Riley and James said by the way. We are just trying to survive. We know about the sun."
"You know James?" Seeing Bree nod Rosalie ran and grabbed Bree by the throat slamming her into the brick walll, causing parts of it to crumble to dust."Tell us everything you know."
Bella restrained Diego as he made his move to help Bree."I think you should let my imprint talk to Bree without interfering. She hates being interrupted."
"Tell me NOW." Rosalie demanded again, tightening her grip causing Bree's neck to crack.
"Um, sweetheart, I don't think she can speak with you ripping her head off her body." Bella said.
Rosalie growled and released Bree's neck ,moving her forearm to hold Bree's upper body tight against the wall."You will tell me what you know."
Bree cleared her throat."Riley found me begging on the street. Offered me some food and a place to stay. I was in a bad way and would have done anything just to get a hamburger so I accepted. Instead of helping me, he turned me and a bunch of others.Then this vampire James comes and starts telling us about this albino chick who turns into a white tiger. How she and a coven of vampires with golden eyes want to kill all of us because we drink human blood. Goes on and on about how horrible they all are and that we need to band together and kill them before they kill us. The guy's insane."
"What are their plans?" Rosalie asked.
"Right now they are training. Look, we don't want any trouble. They only reason we still hang out with those guys is because we have no place to go."Bree said."Please don't kill us."
Rosalie looked at Bella."What do you think?"
Bella released Diego."I think they are harmless and need help."
Rosalie sighed and stepped away from Bree. "Let me guess, the great white tiger, savior of all supernatural races is going to be the one to help them."
Bella gave Rosalie a sad smile. "You know it's the right thing to do."
Diego rushed to Bree and helped her heal her throat."You want to help us?"
Bella nodded. "Do you know were they are now?"
"Yes, they are at some old farm a few miles outside of the city." Bree said.
Bella thought about everything. "Ok,here's what we will do. You two will come with us and tell our allies all you know. In return you will stay with us."
Diego stepped forward."Whoa, whoa, whoa. We don't want to fight anyone. We will tell you where they are, but please let us go."
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "We are going to force you to fight anyone. We are offering you protection from James and Riley."
"Really?" Bree asked wide eyed. "You don't want to kill us?"
"No, we don't want to kill you. We want to help you because you don't deserve to be used as cannon fodder for an egotistical maniac." Rosalie said.
"Thank you."Bree looked at Diego."If you can help us we will go with you."
Rosalie sighed and reached for Bella."I guess our vacation is officially over isn't it.'
Bella kissed Rosalie on the temple, lingering for a moment to take in her scent. "Just think of it like this. You are one step closer to beating Edward to death with his own limbs."
Rosalie smiled. "That is something to look forward to isn't it?"