AN: Hope everyone had a good weekend. Sorry this is a day late. I have a one year old who keeps me on my toes and sometimes away from the computer.
As always, I don't own Twilight. Just borrowing the characters.
Chapter 12
Rosalie POV
I listened as my "father" explained the antidote he and Edward developed. He went into detail talking about crystallization and DNA. To be honest, I stopped paying attention to the details a while ago. Not that I didn't understand the science behind it—I had a medical degree as well—I had just heard it so many times. Frankly, I was surprised it had taken us this long to come up with a solution, but I was delighted that I would finally be leaving this frozen existence and re-entering the world of humanity with Emmett by my side this time.
My mind wandered to the moment I woke initially and I shuttered. Needless to say, I was peeved that Carlisle had changed me and spent a long time doing my best to make him, Esme, and Edward miserable. But, know that I look back—and only with the promise of a return to the life I most desire—am I able to admit that it was less about the change and more about my shock over the attack and the way I had misjudged that bastard, Royce.
Em and I have spoken of that time a handful of times. He has helped me come to terms with me anger over the attack and the subsequent change. If I look on the bright side, I would never have found my husband if it weren't for all the events in my life that led me here. Someday I should really thank Carlisle.
I bring my mind back to the conversation taking place in front of me and notice tears in Tanya and Kate's eyes along with an enormous smile. Eleazar and Carlisle are in midst of a debate about the life we will all be leading after the change.
"No, I understand the desire," Eleazar states and looks to his wife and other family members. "Clearly, my family wishes to make this leap as well. I only want to make sure that we take the necessary time to, as they say, get our affairs in order. We lived a much less open life than you have. Our identities are not as clearly defined as yours. We will need some time to move funds, establish histories, etc."
"Eleazar, that is all fine, but I must put a deadline on this. I wish to begin my human life with Esme and the rest of our family as soon as possible. If you want to establish histories, that can take decades. Jasper takes care of this for us and usually puts a new identity into play at least a decade prior to our using it."
Jasper jumps into the debate offering the Denali clan use of one of the identities he has been working for some time, which they happily accept. He promises that Jenks, our lawyer, will have all the necessary documentation complete in mere days.
"Thank you, Jasper. That is very kind of you." Eleazar gives a bow of appreciation to my brother and turns back to Carlisle. "Allow me a few moments to discuss this with my family. It must be a unanimous decision for us."
"Of course. Though, may I suggest that you witness a change first? That way you can see the process as it transpires."
Tanya jumps in and agrees to witness a change so they can make an educated decision. Now the question is which couple will go first, Alice and Jasper, or Emmett and I. We have been arguing for days. Carlisle wants to only do one for now so that while he and Esme travel to the Volturi, there is some protection at home.
"Well, have you four decided who will go first?" Esme asks. I know she is nervous that this will become a real fight between the four of us. Alice and I are the two who have been arguing fiercest. It had made for a tensioned-filled home over the last two or three weeks. Alice and I glared at each other but no one spoke for a good five minutes.
Edward threw his hands up in the air. "Oh, this is ridiculous. Someone needs to be the bigger couple and move aside. Why don't you each take a few minutes to yourselves and discuss as a couple. Maybe one of you will find a benefit to a few extra days as a vampire." His suggestion sounded ludicrous but we were at a standstill. We agreed and decided to regroup in one hour.
Em and I took a walk to the cottage ruins on the property. It was far enough away that our conversation would be private, but close enough to return quickly.
He held his hand out to me and pulled me onto the ground. Em sat against a tree with my back to his chest. After a few minutes of silence, Em started. "I know you want this, Rose, but what does it hurt to wait a week or two?"
"It isn't just a week or two, Em. We would need to wait until summer so that we don't miss any more school."
"Okay, well, we know the benefits of changing, right? What would be the benefits of hanging on until summer?"
"I can't think of any." I knew I was being stubborn, but I really wanted this—more than anything since I found Emmett.
"Rose!" He was getting upset. "We need to be logical. I'm sure you can think of something. How about a few more months to enjoy the speed and strength? You're in the middle of restoring that '65 Pontiac GTO. It would be so much easier to finish as a vampire than a human."
"I guess." Okay, even I can admit that sounded childish. We sat again in silence for a bit mulling over the pros and cons of changing now versus later.
"How about one more trip to Isle Esme? We could swim in the ocean under the full moon and scare the fish. You know, that'll be dangerous once we're human. Sharks aren't scared of humans."
I smiled remembering the last time we visited the island. Swimming daily, sunning myself on the beach, and sex in every location we could think of. Hmmm. Sex.
"Em?"
"Mm mm"
"Do you think we'll be the same?"
"Well, no babe. Isn't that the point?"
"No. I mean—you know—us. Together."
"Huh?"
"Oh Emmett, you are the densest man I know. I mean sex!" I realize how loudly I shout that phrase. Surely they heard me in the house. Alice will have something to say about this.
"Sex? Well, I don't know. I remember enjoying sex before, you know, when I was human."
I knew Emmett wasn't a virgin when I found him. He was a good looking, twenty-year-old man in rural America in the 1930's. The depression made other forms of entertainment too expensive. But sex, sex was free. At least most of the time.
"I wouldn't know," I reminded him.
"Ah, Rose, my good girl." The fact that he was my first always made him smile.
"But do you remember it being better as a human, or better now."
"There's no comparison, babe." I smiled his 1,000-watt smile.
"So, it's better now? The why are you willing to give up this life?"
"Sweetie, sex is amazing now. You are an adventurous, passionate, and tender lover. I could make love morning to night and back to morning, but it's never enough. I feel like my frozen heart melts every time I touch you."
If I could cry, tears would be streaming down my face right now. How can I ask him to give this up? How can I give that up?
He continued. "But I have to believe that the reason I melt is you and that won't change whether we're human or vampire. You are my mate. My soul mate. My other half—my better half. I can't imagine a life without you. Since we discovered that this change was possible, I picture is holding you in my arms as we drift to sleep. I picture you growing round with our child growing inside you. I picture holding our child for the first time. The only way all of that is possible is to become human." He squeezed me tightly to him. "If that means I have to give up a little of the adventure, I'm okay with that. Of course, once we change, I may need to experiment a lot to see if we can feel the difference. We can always turn back if we want to. Carlisle will still have not changed."
I tried to tell Em without words how I felt, because I was speechless. My husband was the biggest goofball I knew. He always spoke from the heart, with no filter. It was days like today that I thanked my lucky stars that I had him.
"I love you, Em. I don't tell you that often enough."
"Love you too, babe. Now, what about waiting to change?"
"I don't want to wait, but if we have to, it'll all be ok."
We walk back to the house hand-in-hand and enter the living room as Alice and Jasper come in through the open window near the kitchen. She came right over to me and gave me a hug. "Rose, you and Em go first. Jazz and I will follow this summer." She turned to Carlisle and offered her reason. "I had a vision of me helping with the Volturi. I think Aro and the rest will take it better if they can see the same future I have seen for them."
Carlisle simply nodded at Alice and Jasper and then turned to us. "Are you two ready to go?"
Emmett wrapped his arm around my waist as I leaned my head on his shoulder. We smiled at the room. With a twinkle in his eye, Em looked at me, wiggling his eyebrows. "Let's get this show on the road. We have some experimenting to do as soon as we wake up." I hit him on the head and moved away to stairs. Our change would occur in our bedroom so we could be comfortable.
AN: I have to thank HopeInHell for the part of the conversation idea. I hope I did it justice.
Back to Edward and Bella next.
Don't forget to review. They make my day and let me know if the story is being enjoyed or not.
Thanks,
Em