Disclaimer: Twilight babes still aren't mine, sorry...

AN: Hoo boy, it's been a while. My life sort of fell apart and I won't bore you with the details, but I think writing more is going to be good for me. And hopefully good for you guys. So, here's a long-overdue, yet tastefully short update. It's a bit heavy to make longer, but I'm working on the next one now. Enjoy~

It was quiet when we arrived in the back yard. I scented the air and listened closely to see who was home, but all I could sense were Esme and Edward's scents. Edward was in his studio, Esme was downstairs somewhere. I imagined she was waiting for our return because of Emmett's departure and Carlisle and Jasper's absence. As we approached the house, I could make out the slow notes of Edward's piano drifting down the stairs and off the balcony. Alice touched my arm gently.

"I'll be upstairs if you need me," she murmured before climbing the stairs to her room. I crossed the threshold to the living room hesitantly, my eyes fixed on the back of Esme's head where she sat on the couch. I knew she could hear me despite my light footfalls, though she made no move to indicate she had heard me enter.

I stalled there for a moment, wondering if she'd want to see me after what had happened. She had clearly sent the others away for the time being. I couldn't blame her if she wanted to be alone, and I certainly couldn't blame her if she had had enough of me for the night.

"Come sit down, Rose," her voice called softly from the other side of the room. I followed the quiet command and slowly made my way to a chair across from her. She looked at me with dark, despondent eyes that made my heart clench in my still chest. "Do you even know how much I care for you?" She all but whispered.

"Of course I do, we're your children," I answered softly. She shook her head.

"No, Rose, you in particular...we've always had this connection, even if you've become distant over the years. We were always close from the start of your new life." I nodded, suppressing the beast's urge to tell her It's because we are mates! I pursed my lips and crossed my legs to better hide my emotions.

"You brought me safety," I offered quietly. She nodded.

"Yes, and I'd like to do so again. I can't really imagine what it's been like for you, but I want you to know that my being here hasn't changed. I don't really know how to help you with...what you're going through right now, but I don't want you to feel like you can't come to me." She leaned forward, looking deeper into my eyes. "You're my baby, and I want to spend time with you," she finished quietly. My chest tightened at her words and I couldn't help the pain from leaking into my eyes. With my lips pressed tightly together I nodded and looked away, not trusting my voice.

When I dared to make eye contact with her again, what I saw solidified my decision to stay around despite what I would have to bear. The deep care and concern in her eyes shook me for a moment. I felt myself get a bit lost in her gaze, mesmerized by the way her eyes had darkened at my pain. I could see then what Alice had mentioned earlier. A small sphere of sadness hid in the depths of those pools, something hidden and quiet even though it persisted. I longed to take that pain away from her, but I knew all I could do was take the time to reconnect with her. No matter how painful that would be for me.

I nodded again, rising from my seat at a human pace. Esme rose as well and walked towards me hesitantly. I stalled in response, not yet moving to the staircase. She lifted her arms as she approached and pulled me into an embrace, her hand guiding my head to her shoulder. My arms wrapped around her of their own accord, resting on her back. Her nose pressed into my hair as she inhaled slowly. One of her hands rubbed my back, seeking to soothe me as she did many years ago. My jaw clenched so tight I feared my teeth would crack with the effort to hold back the instinctual purring that bubbled in my chest. Being so close to her for the first time in decades, I was hyper-focused on every small movement she made and every breath she took. I had to lock much of my body in place to resist my desire to curl into her even more. She felt my muscles tense and pulled back, her eyes harboring that small sadness even closer to the surface. I murmured a small apology, turned away, and made my way up the stairs.

Alice's door was open when I reached the top of the staircase, and so I entered. Turning from where she was looking out the window, she smiled at me and pranced over to sit on the bed. She patted the spot next to her, her eyes sporting that far-off look she got whenever she had been combing through the future.

"I take it you overheard," I mused quietly. She nodded and turned to me.

"Yes. I've been doing some searching for you," she began, referring to her recent focus on the future. "There's a lot up in the air right now, and I'm sure you already know this, but this isn't going to be easy for you, Rose." She paused, her throat tightening and her brow furrowing. "It's not going to be easy for anybody."

The look in her eyes worried me. She had seen something that was causing her pain. I bit back a sigh. Never did I want this to interfere with the family, especially not to any magnitude. It was tempting to flee, or at least to suppress it again. Maybe even join Emmett in Denali. But I knew better. Between what Alice had told me in the forest and what I had seen in Esme's eyes, I knew better.

"What is it that you saw, Alice?" I whispered, studying the grain in the hardwood floors. She fidgeted with her feet, shifting her weight around.

"I can't really make sense of it yet," she murmured.

"I don't like seeing you hurt, you know." I hoped my imploring tone conveyed my unspoken demand to know. She sighed, and leaned closer, her voice so hushed nobody outside the room could hear it.

"Someone else will be leaving, and it's not going to be you."

The words sat heavy in my ears, sinking down to my gut. The common urge to run grew stronger, but I planted my feet as if to say no to myself. I had made my decision, and I was going to stick to it. But Alice's words rang in my head. Despite the disdain I felt for our coven's idealization of the "family unit," I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that it was splintering because of my issues. Something I'd thought was between me, myself, and I (and occasionally Edward via mental eavesdropping) was uprooting all of us to some degree.

AN: So. This chapter slows things down a bit for Rose, which is reflected by the song I chose for the playlist. Remember to let me know if you want to take a listen, just shoot me a PM or whatever ahha. I find it enjoyable to listen to the relevant song when I'm editing each chapter. Love you guys. See you soon.