Secret Beneath the Roses
Chapter 22: The Rose and Lily Blossom Together
A/N: I'm almost done with this series. Took me some time to do it. Nearly a whole year. I didn't envision this story dragging on for so long and I'm kind of glad I'm almost done with it. I've recently wanted to focus my energies on a different story and I don't want to move to that and leave this unfinished. I hate when authors start something and I get really into it and then they never leave it finished. It bugs the crap out of me.
So this series will be completed, with a big thank you to those who have stuck with the two girls on their harrowing journey for this long.
Rosalie and Alice spent the night mimicking sleep as they lay next to one another on Alice's pink sheets, their limbs tangled together and breathing the same air as each other. They didn't have to say anything to one another; just being in each other's presence was good enough for the two newly reunited lovers.
When the first rays of light peeked in through the rooms window curtains, Alice opened her eyes, Rosalie's own eyes snapping open the same time her soul mate's had.
"Good morning," Alice chirped, leaning in to brush her lips on the others full mouth.
Rosalie eagerly returned the kiss and what had started of as chaste grew more heated until the blonde had rolled the pixie onto her back and was kissing her, her tongue battling with the smaller vampires. She held herself up on by her elbows, her thick blonde hair tickling Alice's face. Alice let her hands tangle in it, reveling in the silky long tresses. How she often had dreamed of running her hands through the blonde vampires hair and now it was a reality.
She let a contented sigh escape from the back of her throat and Rosalie pulled back at this. The two did not need air and could continue kissing for as long as they desired, uninterrupted, but Rosalie had other plans. "Let's save this for the picnic later tonight. I want to set a better mood."
"I didn't know you were such a romantic," Alice mussed, her hands slipping free of Rosalie's hair.
"I have to make up for my earlier lack of it," she explained, scooting over to the edge of the bed. Alice missed her hovering over her, but she supposed she would have that soon. And for the rest of eternity, she would have Rosalie near her, touching her in anyway as she desired, bodies contorting in passion-Alice shook her head to stop her thoughts from jumping into the gutter. It was too early for that.
"What do you want to do today?"
That was a good question. Alice didn't know. She was so used to staying with the Volturi and always being forced back and forth to do tasks for them. And when she was alone she usually moped around and lamented her separation from her family. Now she was back home, left to her devices. It sort of felt like going on summer break after a long year of working hard at school. Too much nothingness to do after so much work prior.
Alice shrugged, conveying her indecisiveness on the issue to Rosalie, whose lips frowned. "Does Alice have nothing to do? The girl who always finds something to do out of nothing?"
"It feels weird being back home after all this time. I just need some time to relax. To soak in the fact that I am, home. It feels real nice to be back with all of the coven again. I missed you guys so much." Alice's voice got softer on this, as she recollected the terrible experience of being the Volturi's little pet slave.
"I swear I'll kill them all. If the wolves don't get to them first then I will," Rosalie vowed, her teeth gritting together and her eyes turning black. Alice put a comforting hand on her mate's shoulder. "Don't waste your energy getting mad, it's not going to change anything. Let's just go from here."
It took a couple seconds for Rosalie to calm down, as Alice's sensible words sunk into her. She nodded her head begrudgingly and stood up from the bed. "How about going on a hunt?"
"Sure," Alice got up as well. "I was thinking, perhaps we could invite Bella as well?"
Rosalie's frown is expected, as are her acerbic words. "And why are we inviting her along? Why do we need her to hunt with us?"
Alice knew this was going to happen, but she had sort of hoped that Rosalie's hatred of the brunette would have subsided ever since the young teen had become a vampire. But it seemed that hadn't been the case. Rosalie still disliked Bella, if maybe more now that she had been turned into a vampire. "Rosalie, I know your relationship with Bella is rocky, but she is still one of my close friends and I haven't seen her in years. I want to go talk to her. To find out how come she became a vampire."
"Then go talk to Edward or something. He can tell you." Rosalie folded her arms over her chest. Alice did too. Oh boy, looks like this will be our first argument ever as a couple. And over something so stupid.
Alice remains resolute. "But I want to talk to Bella, so I will."
Rosalie also remains resolute. "I don't want you talking to her."
"And why not? This grudge you have against her is getting ridiculous. She's a vampire now, and in our coven. You cannot keep hating her."
Almost childishly she responds with, "Yes I can. Watch me."
Alice resists the urge to roll her eyes. She wonders if this is vampiric jealousy, rearing it's head at an inopportune moment. "Rosalie, there is no need to be jealous. I'm just going to talk to Bella. She's mated and so am I."
"I am not jealous," Rosalie insists, in such a manner that it becomes apparent that she is indeed covetous. Ah, vampire instincts are absolutely the worst, especially when it comes to soul mates, Alice thought with a hint of amusement.
Alice tried to hide the smile in her face from breaking out, knowing that if she smiled now it will only agitate the blonde further. She approached Rosalie, uncrossing the blonde's arms and holding her hands. Rosalie tried to glare at Alice as Alice made her eyes as big and innocent looking as possible. "I know that we just got back together and I do want to spend time with you, but I also want to talk to everyone in the coven. To catch up with what has happened before I go into hibernation, by spending so much time with you. We have all of eternity to be together."
"But what if we don't? I almost ruined it the first time. I don't want to waste this second chance I've been given." Rosalie's voice is soft. "After all, the Volturi are still after us."
"Not all of the Volturi, just parts of it. And we have allies that are willing to help us keep them off of our backs."
"But you forget that the parts that are out to get us consist of the strongest parts of the Volturi. And the most vicious ones. Do you seriously trust the mangy dogs to keep Sulpicia off of our backs?" Rosalie's eyes were pleading now.
Alice rose up on her toes and left a gentle kiss on Rosalie's cheek. "I trust you to keep us safe." Then she rocked back to the soles of her feet, releasing Rosalie's hands as she made for the doorway. "I'm going out to spend some time with Bella." Then she was gone, leaving Rosalie looking after her, a conflicted look on her face. At last the blonde closed her eyes and let out a sigh. Alice had managed to sway her and all it had taken was one choice phrase and a kiss on the cheek. Since when had Rosalie gotten so easily manipulated by others? She was supposed to be the manipulator, damn it! She shook her head, deciding to just forget about it for now. If Alice wanted to talk to icky Bella then so be it, as long as Rosalie didn't have to be around.
"Fine." Was all she said, knowing that Alice could hear it from downstairs, before Rosalie decided to go hunt.
"So Bella," Alice plopped herself down on the couch that Bella was at. She was watching TV, Edward and child nowhere to be seen. Probably he was out teaching his daughter what animals to hunt. "What's up?"
"Alice!" Bella jumped up from the couch and blurred over to Alice, slamming her with the force of a truck. Alice merely laughed at the power held in the girl's body before she wrapped her arms around her. Bella certainly had the strength of a newborn, meaning she had to have been transformed this year.
"How are you feeling?" Bella asked, moving back from the pixie. Her amber eyes glanced over the pixie in concern and genuine curiosity.
"I'm better, now that I'm home. I terribly missed you all," Alice admitted as she scooted closer to Bella on the couch. "And I know I certainly missed some important things. You need to spill everything. Now!" Alice could barely contain her interest at Bella's changed state and at her daughter.
Bella gave a laugh at Alice's wonder. "I figured you would ask about all that. It's kind of a long story."
"I don't mind. I'm all ears," Alice indicated to her ears making Bella laugh again. It was something pleasant now, a thick sound and freely escaping from her lips. Whenever Bella had laughed as a human she had seemed uncertain of it, as almost afraid to let out one because she wasn't sure it was acceptable in such a situation.
"Well..." Bella trailed off as she looked off to the distance, thinking over what words to use. "I'm not sure where to start entirely. I guess the wedding."
"A wedding!" Alice said in astonishment. "I wish I had been there to see it. Or to plan it. I would have given you such a wedding you would never have forgotten it."
"I'm sure it would have been wild," Bella acquiesced. "As it was it was a very small affair." Then Bella launched into her story, which began around a year ago. Edward had proposed to her, but she hadn't wanted to get married until she was out of high school, or until she had slept with him. Edward agreed with the first part but had refused the second part. But when Bella pointed out that she wouldn't marry him otherwise, he relented. This had caused Bella to get pregnant with a half human half vampire baby. Edward had wanted to get rid of it right away, but Rosalie surprisingly had supported to choice to keep the baby.
This slightly surprised Alice. She knew the blonde hated Bella but she had supported her in this case. She wondered if it had anything to do with how the blonde herself had wanted a family but couldn't have one because her future had been stolen from her.
After the baby had been born, it had nearly killed Bella. Nearly, for Emmett insisted that they couldn't let her die, no matter how much Edward hated the thought of turning the love of his life into a soulless being. Edward had finally done it, after much moral deliberation. He had been the one to change her and the pain had been terrible, worse than anything Bella had imagined. But after three horrendous days where she often thought dying was better, she finally emerged, like a butterfly from a cocoon, changed into the beautiful monster known as a vampire.
From then on Edward had taught her how to hunt, how to fight, pretend to be human, and other vampire essentials. They also raised their daughter. Unfortunately, the Volturi had heard about Renesme and had wanted to destroy her because they felt she was a dangerous anomaly. The Cullen family had then decided that conflict with the Volturi was unavoidable and they had gathered an army of vampires and shape shifters to their cause and had stormed the palace, insistent on pleading Renesme's cause and also saving Alice. If they could not peacefully gain their goals then they would by force. The end result had been the war that Alice had just gone through.
"A crazy first year for you, huh?" Alice asked as Bella concluded her story.
"I suppose you could say that," Bella murmured, letting her body relax into a more comfortable position on the couch.
"But how do you feel? Being a vampire and all. I knew you always wanted to be one, but how is it holding up to your expectations?"
"It's...amazing," Bella said, a smile on her face. "I get to be with my husband, my child, and with my friends, forever now. But it is not without it's troubles. Thirst is still a terrible thing and animal blood does not taste as appetizing as you guys made it sound."
Bella and Alice talked a bit more about the various topics pertaining to their interests. Bella was careful not to ask Alice about her time with the Volturi and Alice was grateful for that. There was no way she wanted to recount that experience. Once had been enough. She wanted to move on from it.
They talked until the sun began to set and Alice had a feeling the house was still empty because the other vampires were giving the two girls time to chat and catch up on anything. It was kind of them, but Alice wanted to see the rest of her coven too. She got up from the couch, stretching and bidding Bella a good afternoon, citing that she had to catch up with the others too. Bella had waved her on, saying she needed to check up on Renesme and Edward too.
"I don't suppose you'll let me do makeovers on you anymore?" Alice asked as she headed towards the door way.
"You'll have to fight me for it, if you want to. And I'm not a weakling anymore." Bella picked up her fists, throwing a few practice punches. "Edward's been teaching me how to be a menace."
"How scary. If only I had a power like premonition to help me in battle with you," Alice said mockingly, tapping her chin with her finger.
"Shut up," Bella said, in good nature. "I have a power too, in case you forgot. Try getting past my shields with your visions."
"You got me there," Alice conceded and then with a last wave of her hand she went out to find the rest of her coven. She found Jasper first. The boy was out in the woods by their house, sitting by a creek and just enjoying the afternoon breeze and the sounds of nature around him. He moved to greet her when she arrived and kept a respectful distance for her out of regard to her mate bond with Rosalie. The two of them talked about all manners of topics, it just being nice to talk again. Alice enjoyed talking with him. He was very knowledgeable about a lot of things and every time she talked to him she learned something new. He was also simply a great conversationalist, turning any topic into something worthy of talk.
In the past Alice had lamented her unfulfilled relationship with him. She had liked him and thought he was everything she wanted. She had thought the two of them would work so well together, but his feelings had ever matched with hers. And when he had finally gained feelings for her it was a bit too late. At that point Rosalie had joined the coven and taken all of Alice's love for Jasper for herself. And now they were mated.
"It's a shame," Jasper brought up in the conversation. "That the two of us never worked out. But now I know why. You were always meant to meet your mate. And while I still like and admire you, I will keep my distance so that I do not come in between the relationship."
"Don't let Rosalie catch you saying that. But thank you for being understanding." Alice gave him a quick and brief hug. Then she parted ways from him and sought out the next Cullen family member. The whole evening went like this, slowly turning into the late hours of the night and then to the early hours of the morning. Alice conversed with Carlisle about his hospital patients, with Esme about interior decorations and what they would construct their new home to look like, with Emmett about what he had been up to in his virtual video game worlds and in the real one, and finally with Edward about his new family and the burdens of having to have made his wife into a soulless being.
Alice had reassured him, saying that he had saved a life and that that was surely worth more than condemning her to a horrid fate in the afterlife. He hadn't seemed cheered up by that until Alice had mentioned that he now had a family, something he never had before, and that which most other vampires couldn't claim to have, at least not to the same degree to which he could.
At long last when Alice was done talking to everyone she returned back to her room where she found Rosalie lounging on her bed. "How was the hunt?"
"It was fine," Rosalie said, turning around and propping herself up on her elbows so that she could look up at Alice. "You took a long time," she said with no hint of bitterness at being kept waiting.
"Yea, I had a lot to fill in. I missed so much. Everyone has been so busy," Alice sat down next to Rosalie, causing the blonde to sit up so she could wrap her arms around Alice's shoulders. The smaller girl leaned into the touch. It was nice to be back with Rosalie. No matter how much she loved the rest of her coven, there was something about the mate bond that caused a vampire's very cells to demand close proximity to their fated one.
"I'm glad that you got to talk to them. It gave me time to set up the picnic," Rosalie said into Alice's ear, causing shivers to go up and down her spine. The others breath smelled sweetly of flowers. "Shall we go, to our much overdue event?"
"Yes," Alice breathed, excited to be alone with Rosalie, truly alone, for the first time. The two girls got up and held hands, as Rosalie directed the two of them out through the house, past the woods and deeper towards the mountains. They scaled the mountains with no issue, coming up to a grassy peak that had a red tablecloth spread out on it. There was a basket there, containing a bottle of expensive wine and two glasses. Vampires wouldn't get drunk off of liquor but it was the only thing they could taste that came from their human past that didn't turn to ash in their mouth.
The two of them settled down on the blanket, Rosalie popping open the cork and pouring the two of them a glass each. "Why this specific spot?" Alice asked as she inhaled the rich scents of the wine. It was a deep red, like blood. Her mouth watered.
"To see the sunrise. It's a really good site for it," Rosalie murmured over her glass. The two of them sat in silence, Alice gravitating closely to Rosalie's side. The blonde threw an arm around her. Soon enough the early morning light turned brighter and brighter, the sun slowly making its ascent. The horizon glowed and thanks to the two girl's vampiric eyes they were able to look longer than a human could before they had to avert their gazes. The rays of light hit their hardened skin and set it ablaze into dazzling displays of shimmering sparkles. But they weren't worried about any human seeing them like this. After all, they were very high up.
Rosalie took their empty glasses and refilled them. "To us," she toasted, giving Alice's now full glass a tap. Alice sat up so she could chug the liquid, completely draining her glass. Finished, she licked her lips for the last vestiges of the wine. Rosalie's eyes followed her tongue, almost entranced by it. The blonde thought Alice hadn't noticed but she had. She shot the blonde a smirk. "See something you like?"
Rosalie smirked back at this. "Of course," she murmured, swallowing down the last of her wine before she threw her glass away, causing it to shatter somewhere on a rock. Then she did the same with Alice's glass, cutting the smaller girl's protests about how Esme would kill them for wrecking her glasses with a kiss to the lips. Alice let herself be drawn into the kiss, hands coming up to tangle up in Rosalie's hair. Alice knew that this was it. It was finally the time that the two of them would finally consummate their soul mate bond.
She let Rosalie gently push her to the blanket, the blonde pulling away from Alice's lips to speak. "I've never actually done this with a girl before." She sounded a bit timid although her face was a mask of confidence and Alice merely ran a soothing hand down her jawbone.
Alice had kissed other females before but never gone this far with any of them. So it was relatively new territory for her. But she knew it was territory she wanted to explore and no one was better for this than her soul mate. "Same for me. So I guess we'll have to discover things along the way," was Alice's soft response when she realized that Rosalie required spoken words to bolster her. Then Alice pulled Rosalie's head down once more and kissed her long and hard. The blonde's mouth opened so she could let the smaller vampires tongue in. The two of them battled briefly for dominance but Alice let the blonde win out. Gasps of excitement left their mouths as their legs twined together and their bodies shifted and slid against each other.
Rosalie then moved her mouth down and pressed kisses down the length of Alice's neck, making the pixie's head arch back so that the blonde could have more area to kiss. Her mouth stopped just above Alice's collarbone. It seemed she was hesitating over something. Alice raised her head to give her a look.
"What? Is something wrong?" her voice was a bit husky with desire.
"You have too many clothes for my liking," Rosalie growled out, her eyes having gone darker with her arousal as she eyed the shirt on Alice's torso like it was causing her anguish.
Alice let out a husky laugh. That was something so silly. She had thought it was something more serious. "Then fix that problem."
And Rosalie did.
A/N: Since this story is rated T, I wasn't certain how far I could go in terms of their consummation so I left it off right before it could get too graphic.
