A/N: Sorry it took a week longer to get this out! It gave me fits! I couldn't get it to flow right. Hopefully you enjoy the ninth attempt at this chapter!

Thank you much to my beta girlies: Ninmesarra and Prettyflour- you guys are awesome! *Hugs*

*~HR~*

Entering through the gates of the Makenzie's keep was a huge relief. The entire party of travelers breathed out a heavy sigh full of contentment that they'd finally reached their destination. They were all soaking wet after travelling two days in the rain with no shelter.

The servants informed the men and ladies that they had hot water for baths, but they were going to have to heat more in order for them all to have steaming water. Rosalie couldn't find it in herself to care if it was hot or cold, so long as she got to wash away the dirt and grime of the past few days. She couldn't decide if she were happier about the idea of a hot bath, a real bed, or an actual meal. They'd lived on salted meats and stale bread for most of their trip. Occasionally the men were able to snare a few rabbits or catch a mess of fish to cook, but those nights were few and far between.

One of the serving ladies grabbed Rose by the hand and led her up to the chamber she would use while here. A bath was already waiting for her. Rosalie hurriedly discarded her filthy dress and stepped quickly in the water before it had a chance to cool off. She savored the heat that infused her body and soothed away the aches. After a few of minutes of relaxing in the water, she hurried with her cleansing regime.

Stepping from the tub she dressed and brushed her hair then stepped out into the hallway. She glanced around and caught sight of a serving lad. "I'm sorry to be a bother, but can ye help me find my way back to the hall?"

"Of course, mistress, just follow me."

When they reached the hall, Rose glanced around. It was being decorated for a celebration and in the hour since they'd arrived, the Makenzie women had set up a beautiful array of flowers- some hung from the mantle over the fireplace, some were in bowls on the table- which were covered with cloths- and some were dressing the doorframe.

"What is all this?" she asked the lad.

"We're havin' a wedding! Siobhan is marryin' up with the Black and the Laird says to do it today. That way he can nae leave."

"Weel, I ken Jacob verra weel, and he will nae be leaving. He gave his word, but I under-"

"There ye are, Rosie-mine," Emmett said, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her from behind. He rested his chin on her head, and sighed in contentment. "D'ye ken how happy ye make me, lass?"

Rose turned in his arms and smiled up at him. One finger trailed along his bottom lip as she teased him. "Ye're playing with fire, lass."

Her eyebrow crooked in question and he leaned down to kiss her. Their lips moved together in perfect synchronicity. When he pulled back, he couldn't help but grin at the dazed look in her eyes. He loved knowing that he'd put it there.

The sound of others joining them caused them to step apart, but Emmett kept hold of her hand. Rose heard Kate's laughter and smiled in turn. It was wonderful to know that someone in her family had survived that horrible night and that she was happy.

"Rose, ye ken we could have a double ceremony. I am nay blind to what the two o' ye were doing on our journey back. The long walks and then when ye'd come back, ye're hair was all mussed and crazy. We dinnae mind having ye and Emmett share the ceremony with Siobhan. I'm certain I have a dress for ye to wear as weel that would be appropriate."

"Um, Katie, thank ye for the offer, but I dinnae ken that we are ready for that yet. It's something we'd need to talk about at any rate. How soon will the wedding start?"

"I hope to have it begin within two hours. Ye have plenty of time to discuss it and get ready for it if ye decide ye want to. Just let me ken as ye do," Kate said as she left the couple to see to the feast being prepared in the kitchen.

Emmett was looking at Rose with a look that said 'let's do it!' but Rose was so afraid. Seeing the look in her eyes that told him she was going to run, he gave her hand a slight squeeze and turned to her, "Walk with me, Rosie?"

She nodded her assent and the couple left the keep. They walked quietly through the bailey and out into the open area surrounding the walls. The stopped after a while and Rose sat down amid the heather that grew on the hillside. She picked at a sprig of grass and glanced up at him, waiting.

"Rosie, ye ken I love ye. Ye ken I want to wed with ye. That is nae the question. The question is, are ye ready, Lass?"

Plucking at another bit of grass, Rose contemplated the question. Her thoughts whirled. She was so scared- afraid that something would happen to him because of her. But then she recalled all the allies they had now. And with the almost healed wounds on her cheek, she was hoping she'd no longer be considered breathtakingly beautiful. If her beauty wasn't a question anymore, then she could relax and surrender to the love she felt for Emmett.

"Ye have me verra worried lass. What is going on inside ye're head?"

With a sigh she told him, "I am still afraid Emmett. I ken ye will protect me with ye're verra life and yet that is the part that terrifies me. I dinnae want ye to get hurt because of me. I could nae survive with another loss like that because of me. I almost dinnae last time. If it was nae for ye're family, I would nae have. I just…. I want to, ye ken that, aye?" she waited for his nod, "But I can nae be responsible for another's death. I can nae. It will kill me."

Emmett sat beside her and reached a finger over to wipe away the tears that she hadn't known were spilling down her cheeks. "Ye just have to ask yerself, is it worth it? Is the love we have, and the life that we could have together- is it worth the possible pain and heartache? Ye ken, I have to worry too. Ye are the one that will be bearing my children. Ye are the one what will be left at home if I get called to battle. It will nae be just ye taking a risk, Rosie. But I ken that even if tis only a week, it will be worth it. I love ye, Rosie mine."

"I love ye, too, Emmett." She stopped herself from saying more at that moment. She needed to think. Would a week of passion and love be worth heartache?

"We are nae guaranteed tomorrow lass. I could get called to battle with Edward and be ambushed. Ye could be riding ye're horse and get thrown. There are so many things that could go wrong, but we can nae live in fear of them. We have to grasp the moments that we're given and make the most of them." Placing a chaste kiss on her cheek, Emmett stood up. "I can see that ye have some things to think about. Let's return to the keep and ye can think on it there. Just know that whenever ye are ready to be mine forever, I will be ready and waiting…. For eternity if I must." He helped her stand and tucked her small hand into the crook of his elbow.

Rose allowed him to guide her back inside. She grabbed a piece of bread from the table that was laden with food and went to the chamber she'd bathed in. She nibbled on the bread but the few bites she took felt like lead within her stomach. She set it down on the table by the bed and lay down.

She closed her eyes to the light cascading through the clouds and the window slit, and tried to sort her thoughts. Before she got far into it, she fell into a deep sleep.

A giant man was standing with his back to her. She called his name and he turned to face her. Blues eyes flashing with happiness met hers and she watched his mouth move. No words were audible to her. She glanced down to see what was cradled in his arms. A blanket was bundled around a squirming baby. A tiny fist escaped the fabric to wave in the air. The man brought the baby to her and she gazed into baby blue eyes and sweet face, covered with smooth skin. Looking back up at the man, she could see his lips form the words, "I love you."

The image faded and Ewan was standing before her. He grabbed her hand and led her to a rocking chair. It was the same chair that had graced the cottage they'd shared. He began to speak, "Rose, ye can nae live ye're life in fear. Ye must embrace it and be happy. I dinnae want ye to mourn for me any longer. Ye're parents dinnae want ye to mourn for them anymore either. We are all safe and happy. We may nay have died easy deaths, but we'd do it all over again to keep ye safe. Dinnae let yerself lose the future, a beautiful future of happiness because ye can nae let go of the past. Ye need to be happy, Rosalie."

"But Ewan! I can nae be responsible for anyone else dying because of me!"

"Ye were ne'er responsible. Ye have been told so many times that ye can nae be held responsible for the selfishness of others. When will ye believe it? Ye must nay blame yerself for the evil in others. Ye dinnae tell them to kill us. Ye dinnae choose to be beautiful. Let us go. Let us go so that ye can go on with ye're life and live. We need ye to be happy."

Tears were pouring down her cheeks as Ewan left the cottage. She clutched her heart in agony.

Standing she blinked and was transported to the pile of rocks she'd stacked to try to create a memorial of sorts. She fell at the base of it and cried. When her tears were spent, she sat up and plucked at the flower growing by the base of the stack. She placed it lovingly on the top of it and whispered "I love you. I'll ne'er forget you."

The scene faded again and she was gazing at Emmett. The depth of love radiating in his eyes rocked her to her soul. She knew what she needed to do.

She bolted upright in the bed. Glancing around, Rose noticed that quite some time had passed. She got out of the bed and went to the ewer and bowl in the corner. Pouring some water into it and cleaning her face, she washed away the evidence of the few tears she'd cried.

Grabbing the bag that sat at the foot of the large bed, she pulled out the silver dress Katie had made for her. The dress had a blue sash on it and the laces on the stays were of the same blue. Slipping it on, she tied all the laces and slipped her feet into the slippers at the foot of the bed. She quickly ran a brush through her hair and left the room to find Katie.

In the hall she found her brother-in-law. He was happy to lead her to where Katie was helping Siobhan finish readying for the ceremony. She knocked on the chamber door and was let in by a maid.

"Siobhan! Ye look amazing!" Rose couldn't help but smile at the sparkle in her niece's eyes. "Katie, can I ask ye something verra quickly?"

Katie nodded and Rose walked quickly over to her. Siobhan watched as Rosalie whispered into her ear and saw her mother nod. She was curious as to what that had been about, but wasn't able to inquire about it. They were releasing her hair from the rags they'd rolled it in to fashion curls to allow to hang freely down her back.

Rosalie hurried quickly out of the chamber and down into the hall. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the man that held her heart. He turned around and winked at her, apparently as aware of her as she was of him. She beckoned him to her and Emmett made his way across the room.

"Have ye decided what ye want, Rosie mine?"

*~HR~*

A/N: Hope you've enjoyed the ride so far! We are almost finished with this story! I love reviews! (hint, hint ;)