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Epilogue
Rosalie leaned in close as Emmett put his arm around her. They were watching the last of the leaves falling off of the trees nearest the house.
"Where do you suppose Carlisle will have us go to next?" Rosalie asked, her head leaning on Emmett's shoulder.
"No idea. I'd like to go somewhere where I don't have to stay inside all the time, though. Someplace where the sun doesn't shine so much."
"That would be nice. But being inside isn't so bad when I'm with you," she teased.
"I love you, Rose," he said, smiling down at her.
"And I love you, Emmett," Rosalie answered, and then the smiles faded away as they stared straight into each other's eyes, the world around them disappearing.
"Excuse me," Edward said, coming out onto the porch. Rosalie and Emmett broke their gaze to look at Edward, slightly disoriented as though they had traveled back to earth from somewhere very far in a short amount of time.
"Carlisle says we need to start packing today, because we're leaving for Washington State soon."
"Where in Washington?" Emmett asked.
"A little town called Hoquiam, on the western side of the Cascades. Clouds are a constant part of the atmosphere there." Edward grinned. "We'll be able to go outside during the day."
"Well, that's good," said Emmett. "Just what I was hoping for. But I claim the biggest bedroom. It's going to be a tight fit..."
Edward's eyes grew larger as Emmett talked, and Edward suddenly cut Emmett off and threw his hands up in the air. "I don't want to know, Emmett. And please keep your thoughts to yourself." He stalked off.
"He's so much fun to tease," Emmett said. Rosalie smiled, and they both sat there, just needing to be close.
"What were you thinking?" she asked.
"I was going to say it would be a tight fit for two people," Emmett said, "And then I realized that Carlisle and Esme would get the biggest bedroom anyway, so it didn't matter. I suppose I gave him a nice mental image with that one."
"Two people?" Rosalie asked, drawing back to stare at him.
Emmett sighed. "Okay, Rose, you need to stand up," he said.
"Why?"
"Because I need to stand up."
Rosalie looked at him, confused, but did as he'd asked her. "Now what?"
Emmett slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small case as he got on one knee. "There's something I wanted to ask you, Rosalie, and I needed to get rid of Edward to do it." Emmett cracked open the box and let her see the ring inside. "I love you, and I can't imagine spending eternity without you. Rosalie Lillian Hale, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Rosalie's eyes went wide, staring at the ring, and she began breathing fast. "Emmett, I had no idea..."
"Say yes, Rosalie. Let's go to Washington as husband and wife."
She hesitated. "I love you, Emmett. But..."
"But what?" he pressed.
"But how could you want me, like that, after what they did to me?"
"Rosalie, what they did to you is your past. Don't make it your future. I can't explain it, I'm not eloquent like Edward, or gentle like Esme, or tactful like Carlisle. But I love you and no one else, and I will not be satisfied until you say yes to me."
Rosalie stared at his earnest, red eyes. How could she deny him? She loved him too much. With a deep breath, Rosalie said, "Yes. I will marry you."
And with that, Emmett placed the ring on her finger before sweeping her up in his arms and kissing her full on the mouth for the first time. After they broke apart, Rosalie laughed, free and happy, a sound like Emmett had never heard from her before.
It wasn't much. Emmett would only be able to give her half of her dreams. But for them, it would have to be enough. And Emmett was sure that he could be content with that. And from Rosalie's laughter on the breeze, it seemed like maybe she could be content with that, too.