It was all my fault. If anything caused Emmett pain, I usually blamed it on myself. In this case, if I hadn't forced this life upon him, he wouldn't have killed three humans. Out it the woods, with only me and him around, it couldn't be stopped. But now he felt remorse in the extreme. He was shocked, at himself, and at the world. How could this happen? I can admit that usually, I'm extremely selfish, but particularly that day, I wasn't on my mind at all. I had yet to talk to him since the incident. It wasn't until midnight or so that Edward and Carlisle staggered back into the house, actually looking tired, if that was possible. Even if they had hidden the body well, we had to move. I was secretly a bit grateful, although I was ashamed for even thinking like that. Clark, Kentucky was everything I wasn't, and I hated it. It was simple, too sunny, poor, boring. Hopefully, our next stop would be slightly more attractive. When I thought about, now, I realized that not one of us had talked to Emmett since…he probably felt terrible, and I felt an overwhelming need to comfort him. As I trudged up the stairs, towards his bedroom at the end of the hallway, I doubted I could console him, but decided to try.

"Emmett?" I knocked on the heavy wooden door. He didn't answer, so I entered. There he sat, on the wide pink bed. He offered a weak smile, and then looked down at his feet.

"I'm sorry Rose…please don't be mad…" was he crazy? Of course I wasn't mad! I felt bad about the situation, felt badly for him.

"Don't. I'm not mad. At all. Mind if I sit?" he moved a bit to the left, making room for me to sit beside him. I took that as a 'no, I don't mind'. Shutting the door behind me, I went to him.

"It happens. To Edward, Esme…don't feel bad…please" it was actually paining me to see him like this. He was so sad…his dimples were barely visible.

"Three. Three people, they're people Rose…or they were" he sighed. I wished I could make everything go away in the world, so they would be just the two of us. Obviously I couldn't do that, and I felt completely helpless for it. All I could do was be there, and for six hours we held each other, not speaking, silent understanding. I was unsure of things. Where we were going, what our futures would hold. But I was sure of one thing. Us. Edward knocked on the door, disturbing us.

"Come in" he slipped in the door.

"Carlisle found somewhere; he lived in the area while back…Hoquiam, Washington?" I hadn't heard of it, but it didn't sound as bad as here…of course, anywhere in Washington seemed more attractive to me than Kentucky…

"Edward. Tell Carlisle and Esme I'm sorry." Edward nodded, and again left us alone.

"Rose…stay here with me tonight?"

"Of course" I smiled at the sound of Edward playing his piano downstairs. Usually, the light twinkling sound wasn't even noticeable with everything going on around the house, but today all was silent. It was the dominating quality in the atmosphere. Poor Edward…Carlisle and Esme had each other, as did Emmett and I. He was alone. Maybe someday, he could find someone. I never imagined it would be a human, but hey, not everything's perfect. Only I got my fairytale…I wanted a wedding then. What I had missed as a human or at least a marriage ceremony. Then, I really would have all I could ask for.

***

"So that's everything, right?" Edward asked as he carried the last box out the door. We didn't bring much with us. Esme had decorated the new home. Actually, the only piece of furniture we brought along was Edward's piano. I had only seen the new house once. It was a welcome change. We would finally have enough space for me to feel comfortable. The new town was gloomier than Clark, but I had no issue with it. We could go out more, and pretend to be normal. But we would still be pretending. I stopped that thought, not being in the mood for melancholy that particular morning.

"Yes. We can leave in about an hour…" Carlisle added as he walked out the door, passing Edward. Edward too departed the house, wanting to see the yard one last time before getting into one of the cars.

"Let's go upstairs." I grabbed Emmett's larger hand in my delicate, manicured one and led him up the stairs. It was strange. I had hated this house since we moved here a year ago, but I also loved it. It was where I had met and fallen in love with Emmett. Saying goodbye seemed to be the right thing to do. The stairs creaked as we walked up them. I noted that this would be the last time to hear the familiar sound. We entered my room and sat down on the majestic bed Carlisle and Esme had specially made for me—we were leaving it behind. We were leaving everything behind. We both reclined back onto the white duvet cover. Even now, I wonder what the house would look like if we went back—would my bed still be in the same spot—even the bed coverings and fluffy down pillows?

"What's Washington like…rainy? I've never been away from the east coast…" I loved how he was so naive, but in this case, I had no idea about Washington. I had heard about Seattle being wet and cloudy most of the year. But I was done wondering what life would throw at me next. I just decided to let things happen. We kissed, more intensely than we usually did. I don't know what came over me, or us, really. Sometimes, only in very special moments, I purposely make a memory. I take note of everything—the sights, the sounds, everything—the feelings too. I drifted in bliss as our last memory in Kentucky became one of our most important. Luckily, Edward didn't come upstairs. Nobody did. Thank god…but he could still read our minds, and then I realized just how annoying it could be to have Edward's gift…

***

I hated thinking of Royce again, but I couldn't help but contrast it. How different it was. With Emmett, it wasn't like loss of innocence like it was with Royce and his friends. There was no shame. It ended too soon, because we did leave on schedule. After that day, the thought of marriage popped into my head again, and didn't leave. Yes, maybe things had been in the wrong order, but I didn't think of that. The thought had been there for quite a while—a white dress, a beautiful day, my dream. Edward heard it all, of course, but didn't say anything. He simply looked at me and smiled. As we shot down the highway in my red Packard 734, following Esme and Carlisle to the Olympian Peninsula, the radio played, a multitude of old love songs. Maybe this was what reminded him…Emmett took a deep breath, and turned to me.

"Rose…have you ever thought of…getting married?" Edward groaned. He was getting sick of this I could tell. I knew he heard our thoughts back at the house earlier, and now, well, only Edward knew what Emmett was thinking. I was screaming with joy on the inside, but kept perfectly cool.

"Yes…I have, several times, actually…"

"So…yes?" he was asking now…

"Obviously!" I snapped lightly. He laughed. Just the response he'd been hoping for…

"Good…once we get to Washington…I know you always wanted a big wedding…"

"No need. I only need you" I realized then that before, the celebration had meant so much. But this time, it didn't matter at all. We would be married, and that was all there was to it.