Rosalie's POV

Seven months later.

June rolled around brightening the sun light just a little bit more, warming the air just a little bit. I sat in my bedroom on my bed gazing at myself in the mirror on my vanity.

My hair was half pinned back with multiple flowers in the back, the hair in loose curls. The light caught the sparkles on my pink dress causing them to throw patterns on the wall. The dress was gorgeous. Strapless, tons of sparkly sequins, light pink, came down just bellow my knees. I stood up and twirled around in front of the mirror.

This reminded me of when I was six or seven, when I would dress up and pretend I was an adopted princess, waiting for the king and queen to come take me home again. I would sit for hours waiting for them at my window, searching for their hose drawn carriage.

Today, I really was a princess. At least I felt like it.

Emmett was taking me to prom and I couldn't be happier. I had never been to anything formal. I never got to dress up and feel beautiful.

Karen was so delighted when I told her I would be going. She went crazy booking all of my hair and makeup appointments. She even dragged me to the mall five minutes after I told her, to find my perfect dress.

I glanced at the mirror once more and looked long and hard at myself. I tried to look beyond the dress and the hair. I tried to see deeper than that. I wanted to see into my soul. But, faintly I could see that faded pink line, forever on my right cheek. I traced it with my fingertip and winced as memory's flooded my mind. Everything right from when I was seven years old right up to seven months ago. The first time daddy had hit me, and the last time I had seen Royce. Each memory stung like a new slap in the face, or getting my head smashed into a picture frame.

Royce's words echoed loudly in my mind.

"You can't win Rose! I'll always be able to find you!"

Realization dawned on my right there and then. Right up until this night I had believed his screams. His murderous glare haunted me every night in my dreams. I had accepted that he would always be able to find me. I had feared the day he would return.

But hadn't I already won? I have everything I had ever wanted.

Karen was a great motherly figure in my life. She was kind and caring and was always there for me. She greeted me when I came home from school. She sat down on the couch with me when I had a nightmare and held me while I cried. She was there.

Emmett was everything Royce wasn't. He listened to me and he didn't act like he was doing me a favour by just sitting and talking. He was so kind and he truly cared for me. He didn't care if I called him in the middle of the night just to talk on the phone. He waited for me outside my house everyday so we could walk to school together. He was my everything. He was also extremely good looking, another thing that Royce wasn't.

I heard a door slam down on the street. I rushed to my window to see.

On the street was his faded blue truck and he was stepping out of it to get me.

I laughed to myself.

He was my prince coming to get me in his horse drawn carriage. He had finally found me.

"Rosalie! Emmett is here!" Karen called softly from down stairs.

I took a deep breath and glanced once more into the mirror.

I made my way to the door and opened it softly and started down the stairs. Both of their faces lit up when they saw me and their eyes filled with something warm, I couldn't place. Both of their smiles were contagious and a grin spread across my face as well.

Once I reached the bottom I bounded into Emmett's waiting arms. It seemed like I fit perfectly right there.

Once I was finished hugging Emmett I turned to Karen and hugged her as well.

She grabbed her camera and snapped what felt like one million pictures. When she was done we said goodbye and she wished us a nice evening.

The prom this year was taking place in a park. At first I didn't understand how this was going to work. I was a little bit nervous about it. But then I understood as we arrived.

This park was in a little clearing near the woods and the lake could be seen in the distance. A dance floor sat in the middle of the space, large and shiny. Twinkling lights were scattered in the trees surrounding the dance floor and soft music played out of the speakers that sat on the edge of the floor on the far side. I now understood why it was in the park. First off it was beautiful and secondly tonight was one of those rare nights when it wasn't raining.

We stepped out of Emmett's truck and joined the other students in our grade on the dance floor. We danced to the music and chatted casually with our friends for a while. It was a great evening. The air was warm, calm and peaceful despite the pulsing music. The stars shone over our heads; extra bright tonight.

A slow song began to play, fitting the peaceful setting more than the other songs had. Our group of friends began to go their own way dancing with their dates. Emmett and I began to dance as well. He placed his hands on my waist, and I put mine on his shoulders. I also laid my head there and inhaled his scent. We swayed to the beat silently. I looked up at him and noticed that he was also looking at me. I studied his face. His lips were pulled up in the corners, he was grinning. His endless blue eyes were full of the warmth they were before. The warmth I had no name for.

I laid my head back on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I never wanted this song to end.

I thought of the look in his eyes. I floundered around in my head to try and figure out what this emotion was.

No, I knew what it was, but was I ready to admit to that?

Tonight would be the night.

I lifted my head off of his shoulder once more and looked into his eyes completely aware of the warmth now.

"Emmett," I whispered.

"Yes." He whispered back.

Warm memories flooded my mind. Watching movies in Emmett's house with me curled up on his lap and his cat curled up in mine. Making pan cakes together on the weekend. Building snow men in the winter.

I was ready.

"Emmett, I love you." I said it strongly. I was sure this time.

His smile grew even larger if that were even possible. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

***

In the end I wouldn't trade my past. If I did then I would have never moved here and found my happiness with Karen, and my love with Emmett. It was still hard to use the word and it would take some getting used to, but I had said it and he knew.

The nightmares still haunt me every night but I can call Emmett and I know I will be okay.

I have learned many things in the short eighteen years I have lived. I have learned that life is short. I have learned that remembering what hurts is only a waste of happiness. I know that I should laugh whenever it is humanly possible. I have learned to let go of what I can't change. I know that I have to love deeply and forgive quickly. I take chances, I give everything with no regrets. I have to make the best out of every situation. I have learned to love what I have. I have learned that people change, and things go wrong. But I will always know that life goes on.

I know that I will be okay. I know because I believe in love.

"To love is nothing,

To be loved is something.

To love and be loved is everything."

Thank you so much for reading this story I truly mean it. Let me know if you want me to do another chapter maybe like their wedding in a couple years. If not I think that this will be the end.

As always I really Appreciate reviews and they make my day when I read them.

Thank you :) :) :)