The rain tapped its glossy fingers along the window panes of the mansion. It cracked its knuckles in a bout of thunder, ghostly white nails scraping down as lightning. They ripped a large hole in the sky where the moon emerged, glaring down on the sleeping house. Two hooded figures made their way inside, silhouetted against the lone lamp from within. Perfect curls emerged from one of the hoods, short feathered tuffs from the other. Wet earth clung to their shoes and the hems of their jeans. Alice set their shoes on the porch, leaving the door open so they could still get the freshness of the rain. She leaned against the door jam, breathing deeply, satisfied that she still never got tired of simple things such as thunderstorms. Rosalie handed her a towel, smiling her usual small-barely noticeable unless you looked for it-smile. She always reminded Alice of the Mona Lisa in that regard.
"I'm glad you got things straightened out," Rose said, stretching across the window seat, tucking a decorative pillow behind her back. Her head tilted to lean gracefully against the glass, porcelain reflection dotted with pearls of condensation.
"So am I. I can't tell you how good it feels to be myself again.... Well, a new version of myself I guess." She smiled, setting the towel down and folding her arms delicately.
"You're still the same you," Rosalie replied. "You've just learned some new things about yourself."
Alice nodded, liking the sound of that.
"And I understand completely."
"If anyone would it'd be you and Bella. Thanks," she added. "For bearing with me. You could've torn me apart but instead you forgave me."
"And kissed you," Rosalie pointed out.
"Yes," Alice laughed with her. Rosalie noted that even her laughter sounded healthier now. "You're not upset with Bella at all? You know, for letting us kiss? The fact she wasn't jealous?"
Rosalie sighed, glancing back out the window. "I was. But then I realized it was just a defense mechanism of hers. She has so many bad images stuck in her mind all the time, that any distraction that happens by she'll welcome. I can't blame her for that. Hell, I did it too. With Emmett. His face, his body, blocked out Royce's."
Alice moved to sit by her on the seat. Rosalie casually rested her legs in Alice's lap, and Alice set her arms on them, just as at ease.
"But Bella and I were in love long before those monsters hurt her. At least she has the times together before any of this happened. Something solid. With Emmett it was like I just needed something-anything-to grab onto."
Alice took her hand, rubbing it gently as she listened, heart heavy for them both.
"She's been having less nightmares," she smiled, trying to stay as bright as possible without sounding uncaring.
Rosalie nodded, though somehow it came out as more of a disappointed shrug. "She shouldn't be plagued with them at all."
"You know..." Alice said after a few long moments. "If she were like us she wouldn't be. No sleep, no nightmares. Just an observation."
Rosalie stared at her for a while before looking at her feet still in Alice's lap. "It's crossed my mind," she said simply though modestly, as if she should be torn from Bella just for the thought alone.
"The night of the party Bella said you might change her. So you two have discussed it?"
"Not entirely. We want-"
She was cut off by a panicked scream which soaked through the ceiling like a vigorous flood. The pair were tearing up the staircase before more could follow, which they very quickly did; loud, tremulous hollers which faded into wracking sobs. It was as if the only way for Bella's mind to expel the all too real dreams was to kick them out through her eyes via tears, pounding and clawing at her head in a final attempt.
"StoooooooooOOOOPPP!" She wailed, finally feeling the comforting embrace of the arms she knew by heart. Though her heart rate spiked, the cries ebbed, leaving a trembling carcass for Rosalie to scoop up. She rubbed her back, whispering to her assuringly, making sure Bella saw her face, that her eyes were open. Bella's eyes took in her surroundings-the soft bed, the sheets instead of the stuffy truck. The smell of rain and vanilla instead of oil and a stranger's saliva. She flung her arms around Rose, crying less violently into her sweater.
"They were after both of us this time... they-they caught up" hiccups wracked her entire body, cutting her off between words. "they-they..."
"Shh, love, I'm here. I'm safe here right with you." She smiled somberly, brushing some of the wetness from her face. Moments passed but still Bella couldn't seem to shake the memories. She knew she was in the safest arms imaginable, yet the paranoia remained lodged inside her. It hammered itself deep, clogging any chance of logic reaching her. Alice brought Bella some water, but she couldn't drink it because her hands were shaking so badly. Alice caught the glass, only a few drops escaping onto the sheets. She held it as Bella drank deeply, and Rosalie dampened her fingers to cool Bella's burning forehead.
"I can st-still f-feel them...all over me..." she whispered, past trying to calm herself down. It was just too vivid still, too real.
Rosalie was beginning to worry. Usually she'd be able to wake and calm Bella by now.
"Should I get Carlisle?" Alice asked, clearly just as worried.
Just when Rosalie was about to nod, another idea came to her. The day they'd visited the remains of Bella's house she had learned one of the ways Bella dealt with her stress.
"When I'm with you sexually... or when I saw you and Alice together... It helps make... other things easier to handle."
Right now Bella's body was infested with a thousand unwelcome hands; memories snaking around her greedily. She needed someone to replace them, a creative distraction.
"Alice, come here," she ordered, eyes cold at her own idea.
Alice wasn't about to protest with her in the state Bella was in. She set down the glass and stood behind Rosalie. Bella's glassy eyes floated halfway between their faces and her nightmarish memories. Alice couldn't imagine what kind of pain she must be going through. And not just her. She rested a hand on Rosalie's shoulder, wishing she could carry some of that torment.
In a swift, unexpected movement, Rosalie snatched Alice's wrist and flung her onto the bed.
"Rosalie!" Alice exclaimed, trying to See what she would do. Before she could let her mind search however, Rosalie was on her.
"Rose-what-?"
"Quiet," she whispered, covering her mouth. She glanced at Bella, who was staring wide eyed at them. Alice's body was pressed into the mattress. She could feel the springs in her back, every thread on her bare arms. Rose's knees were on either side of her hips.
"...look at us, focus," Rose was instructing her. Before Alice could blink her jacket was off. Once Rosalie took hold of her pants however, Alice fought. She grasped Rosalie's hands, eyes boring into hers.
"Stop it! What the hell are you doing? She's hysterical and you think it's time for a make out session? You can't-"
"It's for her."
"What can-"
"She needs a good distraction. Right now she's extremely sexually disturbed. If she doesn't find images to replace the ones of her nightmares... Please, just work with me here, okay?"
Alice didn't know what to do.
"But... I don't like you in that way, Rose..."
"It doesn't have to mean anything. Both of us will understand. But this needs to happen now. Look at her!"
But Alice knew. She saw what would happen if she decided to resist.
"Why can't you just be with her physically then?"
"I don't know how she'd react to sexual touch in her state. You know I wouldn't be doing this if I thought there was a better way."
"Carlisle?" Alice tried in a last attempt.
"He can't do anything for her. It's us or nothing, Ali."
Alice let go of her hands at the sound of her old nickname. She stared at Bella then Rose, nerves fluttering.
"This means nothing," she said, pulling Rosalie's face to hers. They kissed with little passion, just enough for Bella to believe it. Rosalie stroked Alice's face, ignoring the irresistible curve of her silky cheekbones. Alice's hands slid around from Rose's waist to her back. No sudden movements, nothing but gentleness. Slowly, Bella's stiff limbs began to unwind. After a few minutes she inched toward them, sandwiching herself between the two vampires.
"Don't talk, honey," Rose told her when she began. Alice glanced at Rosalie, not sure how to hold Bella, who lay on top of her. Rosalie gave her a slight nod, and Alice understood the complexity in the permission she was being given: just for now, this one moment, the ties of morals and relationships were eliminated. There was one goal: making Bella feel safe. The ends would justify the means. Alice wrapped her arms around Bella, who rested her head under her chin. She stroked her long, messy hair, caressing her back gently. Alice's shirt was soaked with tears, so she tossed it aside, ignoring that she only had a bra underneath. Rosalie dropped to her side, taking Bella slowly with her. It was Rosalie holding Bella strongly from behind, wrapping her up assuringly, while Alice supplied a sufficient if mild pressure against Bella's front, kissing her forehead the way only loved ones do. When Bella's trembling converted to shivers of cold instead of fear, Rose and Alice pulled the comforter, still warm from Bella's body heat, around the three of them. Bella sniffed but the tears were over. She melted into a refreshing sense of relaxation, feeling impenetrable from every side. Though she'd spoken, she'd never really become fully awake, making it that much easier for her to slip back into sleep, where quieter, still dreams awaited her.
A/N: This was the chapter where I was going to pull a Midnight Snack (see my story of the same name) and have the three doing more than just snuggling. It felt too shallow though and I couldn't write it. Rosalie and Bella are the only ones for each other. Alice is finding her way now too.
Thanks for reading, love to hear your input. ^^