Please note I have nothing against Canadians or their accents. This is Rosalie's made up opinion and is being used for story purposes only. It does not in any way represent my personal views. Thank you.

Chapter 9: Snow

Emmett's POV

As I trudged through the cold, desolate mountains of Canada at barely more than a human's run speed, my mind wandered, as it so often did, to those last days with my family.

Today, I remembered the conversation we'd had when I'd told them all I was going to go south.

I remembered Esme looking at me with dread in her eyes, Jasper silently fuming and making me feel fear, Edward looking at me and shaking his head, Alice scanning my future and Carlisle speaking to me in a calm, yet equally worried voice.

"Don't do it," he'd told me. "Go to Alaska, spend some time with Tanya."

"No."

"Then visit the world, go to Africa again."

"No." I couldn't go back to Africa, not somewhere Rose and I had been.

"Emmett," Edward put in. "Go to Canada. There are no memories there." He was right. Rose had never wanted to go to Canada; it was too close to our home. She loved exotic places. Places far away. That, and she couldn't stand the accent.

Edward had been wrong though, of course. Everything these days reminded me of her. I'd see someone with hair the length of Rosalie's walking along the street and was reminded of her: someone with the same height, with the same top, the same expression. Each time it tore out a piece of my life, crippled me and banished me further into a dark void without light. Because life without Rose was pitch black. It was as if her very soul, lit up my life and without it…

I concentrated on walking. I made this route every day. Sometimes fast, wanting to see the view. Sometimes slow, like today, enjoying the time alone.

Enjoying wasn't the right word though. I didn't enjoy anything anymore. I used to laugh at the tiniest thing. Make a joke whenever I could. I was never serious. But now…life isn't fun without someone to enjoy it with you.

I reached the top and looked at the view. It was night, but that didn't make any difference to me. I could still see just as clear.

The wind whipped at my clothes, but my icy skin didn't feel anything. I lay down in the snow and looked at the view.

Rose would've loved this view. White mountains as far as I could see, the faint sunlight glistening off the icicles... The new Rose might enjoy this view too, but I would never know. I remembered when Carlisle and Jacob got back from taking her to Miami.

As they came in the door, I jumped up to greet them.

"Is she alright?"

"She's fine," Carlisle reassured me.

"And they bought the story?"

"Mostly. It's rare to have such a severe case of amnesia as Rosalie now has. They probably won't totally believe their own eyes, but what else can they do? Tell her she does remember?"

I nodded.

I'd left that evening. Jasper was being drowned in my grief and all that had kept me there until then was waiting to know if she was safe.

I had a lot of flashbacks these days. Mostly about the end, but some about the time before Rose changed. I knew Bella, when Edward left her, had tried to bury those memories so they wouldn't cause her pain. I wouldn't do that. I was determined to remember.

I felt hollow though; there was a huge hole in my life without Rose. My heart felt like it wasn't there sometimes. Although sometimes it felt heavier than lead.

I was frustrated too, because I had nothing to blame. Well, I could blame that disgusting inhuman thing, Royce King, but he died a long time ago, before I even met Rose. Died at her hands, I thought smugly. Serves him right.

Still, if there had been someone to blame, I would have something to do. Vampires who lost their mates were always going out to seek vengeance. I couldn't do that though, my mate had chosen to leave. Had chosen to become human again, knowing she wouldn't be able to stay with me. Did that mean she didn't love me as much as I loved her?

No! Of course it didn't. She loved me too. Well, she used to. I mightn't be able to read minds or emotional climates, but I could still see, in her eyes, that she loved me. Or had.

I started my way back down the mountain.

I know this chapter doesn't seem like it has much of a point, but I know where I'm going with this. Also, sorry for the wait. I'll try to get a chapter up about once a week I'm just really busy. It should be easier to write now that I know where I'm going with this. Please R+R! Tell me what you think.

~MissAnoni