(A/N: Thank you for all the love. I find myself incapable of writing anything featuring rosalie and bella and them not being in love.)

…

Kate

I'm fully in control now, but my work is still unfinished. I can't stop, not when she has so many bites from another vampire.

Knowing that someone other than me did this infuriates me to no end. I want to rip Victoria to shreds and burn her one by one.

And god, I can smell Bella's arousal, and it's only making me more out of control. I'm lucky to have thousands of years worth control.

I lean up towards her mouth, and look right into her eyes. I don't want to push her, but I need her. I hope she'll let me.

…

Bella

I have no idea what's going on, but all of a sudden Kate is right in front of me, eyes golden, calmed.

I should push her away now, but I can't. Instead, I do something I had no idea I could do.

I push forward, and kiss her.

She immediately wraps her arms around me, and I feel so safe in her embrace.

This should be impossible.

God, I want her. I think I need her.

…

Tanya

I set up a meeting with Rosalie, she'll be getting here to meet in the woods around noon today.

Hopefully, she'll listen. There's a lot going on, and hopefully she'll stay and help protect Bella.

I sit, peacefully awaiting Rosalie. The meadow is very nice, but it reminds me too much of Edward and his brooding to be enjoyable.

Thundering footsteps come up to me, and I greet Rosalie.

"Tanya, why do you require my assistance? Is everyone okay?" Rosalie asks, frantic.

"To put it simply, no. Everyone is not okay. Kate is currently with her mate. I need to ask you some questions, and need to see if you might be willing to talk with Kate's mate."

Rosalie looks shocked, but nods anyway. She sits gracefully onto the ground with Tanya.

"Tell me, what do you know of Victoria?"

Rosalie, again, looks shocked.

"She... She was the mate of a vampire we killed."

"Tell me, what do you do when you kill a mated vampire?"

I'm barely able to contain my rage.

"You kill the mate as well."

"And did you?"

It's quiet.

"No."

"Well. I hope you don't plan on moving back to Forks."

She looks sorrowfully at me. Does she expect compassion?

"Kate's mate was tortured. We think it went on for months. She has 136 vampire bites all over her body. She is still human. Which means a truly sadistic vampire has forced the pain of the venom of her 136 times. We believe she is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She whispers her tormentor's name in her sleep, and she constantly begs us to take her back. She seems to have been raped. She has scratch marks on her neck and thighs, and her lips are swollen and bruised, likely from aggressive kissing." I pause to take a breath. Rosalie seems horrified. Good.

"Who... Who is Kate's mate?"

"If I tell you, you will not be allowed to return to your coven until she has healed. This is your final chance. You can leave here, and forget, and we will not hold it against you so long as you keep your family far away, or you can stay here and help us care for her."

Rosalie looks contemplative, but ultimately picks the choice I'd hoped she would.

"I'll stay. Please, who is it?"

"It's Bella Swan."

…

Rosalie

Bella-fucking-Swan.

God. What did we do?

Bella needed us, and we left. She needed me, and I left. I should've stayed. I know the laws, I know what I needed to do. And I didn't do it.

Now she's suffering because of me. Because of Edward.

Because of our family, and our selfishness.

What have we done?

We've ruined her life.

I knew this would happen. I warned Edward that if he dragged her into this she would never have a normal life. I knew he was dazzling her, doing all kinds of creepy things.

I should've protected her.

I tried so hard to pretend it was all fine, that Edward wasn't like that, not when his mother and sister were turned into these monsters he so hates because of men like Royce and Charles.

Didn't he know better?

I had assumed he did.

Didn't I know better? I should've protected her.

And I didn't.

My family, much less I, don't deserve to see her.

Yet I'm the only one who has even an idea how it feels to be violated in the way she was.

So I have to be here for her. I need to. She deserves so much more than this, than me.

But we're all she's got. She needs us. She needs me. And from here on, I'll do my best to protect her.

…

Kate

Kissing Bella felt like heaven. Edward is wrong. I will not spend eternity in hell.

I'll spend an eternity in heaven, which is the only way to describe Bella Swan's lips. Bella pulls back suddenly, and I have to hide my pout.

"I-I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

Her stutter is cute. It's not cute how she's scared of me, though.

"Bella, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't scare you, and please don't ever apologize for kissing me. If you ever want to, just do it. I'll be more than happy to oblige."

Her eyes go wide, and her swollen lips part.

"Ah, okay," She starts, obviously shocked by my admission.

I lean forward slightly, centimeters away from her lips.

"Can I miss you again, Bella?"

She eyes me, hungrily.

"Yes."