A/N: Not sure if anyone still reads Twilight in 2020, but I wanted to try my hand at some fanfiction. It would mean the world to me if you would review, even if it's short. Thanks! :)

(Emmett's POV)

I lowered myself onto the couch, picking up the remote. I flipped through channels quickly, far too fast for a human. Jasper, Alice and Rosalie had left to go hunting, and wouldn't be back until later tonight. I wanted to pass some time, because I missed Rosalie and I didn't have much to do in the middle of the night.

I settled on an old baseball game, from 2003. I sat back, sighed, and tried to pay attention. Usually my mate would lay in the crook of my arm, even though she didn't care about sports. I smiled distantly at the thought and wrapped my arms around myself.

*Later*

(Rosalie's POV)

Feeling quite satisfied after a successful hunt, I opened the door to the Cullen house and stepped inside. Jasper and Alice retreated upstairs, while I searched for Emmett. I didn't have to look long, for suddenly I was in his arms.

"Hey, Rose," he grinned. "How was the hunt? Anything good?"

I wrapped my arms around him, taking in his scent. "Yeah, a bear actually. You should have come."

"A bear? Lucky! Next time I will. I'm not missing out on a grizzly."

I pulled away to look at his face. Although he had a large grin on his face, his eyes were clouded. I could hear an announcer in the background, talking on the TV.

"I thought you didn't like to watch baseball," I said.

"It's slow," he shrugged. "Just wanted to pass time. I missed you."

"Hmm," she sighed. "Me too. Let's go up stairs."

"Sure," he said, scooping me into his arms. He flew up the stairs and set me down lightly on the bed. I immediately crawled into his lap.

He sat with me for a while, his cheek resting on top of my head and his arms wrapped around me. We had sat in comfortable silence for so long that his words startled me slightly when he spoke once again.

"Rose," he whispered. "Can I… ask you something?"

"Of course," I said, twisting around to look at his face. His forehead was lined with worry. I kissed him lightly to try to make them go away, but it only worked partially.

"I've been wondering for a while now. Please forgive me if I upset you."

"Sure," I said. Something was bothering him. I didn't know what he would ask - he knew almost everything about me. I shared everything with him. I picked through my thoughts quickly to try to find something he might be curious about. I came up empty.

"Back then, with… him. Did you ever… like, get… intimate with him?" The last part came out in a rush, as if he was embarrassed.

I instantly knew who he was talking about. I took a while to articulate my answer. He fidgeted awkwardly.

"Yes," I said carefully. "Royce and I did." I cringed as I said his name. "But… it was different. I never loved him. And maybe I didn't know it at the time, but it didn't feel right. I regret it, every moment of it…" I trailed off, turning around again to bury my head in Emmett's chest.

"Oh," he mumbled. "I'm sorry, love. I've upset you, haven't I? I shouldn't have said that."

"No," I muttered. "It's fine." I was not, however. I tensed every muscle in my body to avoid shaking. I would never cry real tears, but I could go through the motions. I could feel the process beginning. I didn't want Emmett to know.

My past was something I tried to keep out of my mind. I didn't like to think about it, because it always upset me. Now was no exception, though I did not blame Emmett in any way.

"I'm sorry," he said again.

For some reason, those words pushed me over the edge. "I hate him," I spat. "I hate him so much." If I were human, my eyes would have begun to water, and I would have blinked furiously to fight the blur. But I was not human, no matter how badly I wanted to be. Thinking about being human made it worse. I shook violently.

"Hey," Emmett murmured in my ear. He laid back, rolling us over so I laid on my side with my head still placed on his chest. "Rose, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me. But he's gone now."

I didn't say anything. I hoped he would comfort me physically. He did, kissing the top of my head and stroking my hair in a gentle, soothing rhythm.

From an outsider's perspective, I looked calmed in my mate's arms, my eyes closed. But on the inside, I saw not the inside of my eyelids, but rather the vivid colors of the memories that had been brought back.

"Come here, darling," Royce cooed, beckoning his fiancee. It was dark, but I could see that he was swaying on his feet. His friends laughed in a chorus of rough notes, highlighted with a sort of manic melody that sent a shiver down my spine.

I walked to him. "Isn't she pretty?" he laughed.

"Hard to tell with all those clothes." A few snickers.

"Let's find out." A cheer of agreement.

"Royce," I said urgently. "Let's go home. You're going to be sick, dear."

"But Rosie, the men want to see you. You can't simply refuse them, now can you?" A few giggles.

Suddenly, one of the men tore my coat off of me. The pearl buttons popped easily, scattering across the dark pavement. I gasped as the cold wind stabbed me. I could still remember the feeling of vulnerability, so many years later.

I backed away, but Royce caught me from behind. "Not yet," he growled menacingly.

I squirmed as another friend of my fiancee's ripped another article of clothing from my body. This time my blouse, the thin material flashing before my eyes as the memory of the opaque material washed over me.

It was at that moment I realized I would likely never see my family again. My Vera, her little Henry, my father, nobody.

I was vaguely aware of my cheek against a rough surface. I lifted my head ever slightly, though immediately dropped it again as my vision began to go to white. The wind, which I had noticed so sharply earlier, was a force I could hardly feel. All the cold had already seeped into my bones. A few pearls from my coat lay beside my hand. Small white beads, glinting the moonlight and focusing my vision momentarily. I clasped a few in my hand and waited to die.

The burning had stopped. The physical burning, at least. I was changed. Changed into a monster, a killer, a naive girl frozen in time forever. I lay draped over my balcony, my hair hanging below me. I didn't care about falling - it wouldn't hurt me. I felt like the heaviest force on the planet, with most of my weight balancing on the balcony railing. I let myself move a little farther over the edge.

Suddenly, something tumbled out of my pocket and fell onto the ground below me. Curious, I jumped down to investigate.

A few small orbs, white, illuminated in the sunlight.

Pearls.

I gasped. They were the ones from my coat.

I must have put those in my pocket sometime that night. As soon as the shock passed, anger and sorrow overwhelmed me. Having been used to being numb, it hurt worse than I could have ever imagined. I cried out.

And thus began the first flashback.

"Rosalie," a familiar voice spoke. "Hey. Rose?"

My eyes snapped open to reveal Emmett's face. Having realized what had happened, he threw his arms around me and kissed my head numerous times.

For some reason, I felt better. It had been a long time since I had had a flashback like that, but this was the first time I had come out of it in Emmett's arms. A sense of comfort washed over me.

This man, this man was my mate. My husband. My everything. He was everything I wanted and needed, and I loved him so much it hurt. And I knew, especially at that moment, that as long as I lived, even if it was for the rest of eternity, Emmett would always be there for me.

A/N: Review please! I would really appreciate that! Hope you liked it, and I hope you have an amazing day. Remember - you're worth it, and people love you. Even when it seems like nobody does. I believe in you.