Disclaimer: Don't own it, just get a kick out of writing about it. Thanks Stephenie!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to my beta, Emilie Fauve, the resounding expert on all things Carlisle!


I moved like lightning, streaking into the burning shed and leaping over Royce's funeral pyre. Grabbing hold of her roughly, I threw the both of us out the disintegrating door before it was too late. Rosalie gasped in surprise when she felt my arm lock around her waist.

Edward??

She was in shock, her mind no longer functioning diabolically like before - an unforeseen blessing - I thought thankfully, thus making my actions that much easier.

I beat the small flames out of Rosalie's skirt, rolling her over once to make sure no other part was on fire. She had escaped unscathed, but it was no time to celebrate. We had to get to the barn and burn it, as well, before the shed drew the attention of Royce's family from the nearby house.

There was no time to waste explaining my plan - I grabbed her hand, yanking her to her feet and dragging her with me across the yard, back towards the remaining four bodies.

What are you doing here?

She had mentally recovered faster than I had hoped.

"Later. We have to destroy the barn before they come out to investigate."

Destroy the barn? Why?

"They can't find the mutilated bodies. They'll tear the town apart in search of the murderer. We cannot afford to risk it." It hadn't escaped my attention that she had not yet grasped that I was answering her wordless questions. I hoped she wouldn't figure that out until after the barn was ablaze and we were a safe distance into the woods.

She ran silently with me for a second before hitting me with the next unspoken question.

You knew I was here. You've been here the whole time, haven't you?

"Yes." Upon reaching the building, I threw open the door and raced inside, gathering as many unlit lanterns as I could find before hunting for a match. She slowed to a stop a few feet inside, staring at me with her mouth agape.

How did you know?

I ignored her, searching in vain for something to ignite the lanterns. I could now hear the thoughts of those in the house as they became aware of the burning shed; we had very little time.

I was careful…I checked to make sure you weren't behind me.

Finally, I found the matches. I lit the wicks immediately, slamming the burning lanterns into various piles of hay in each corner of the barn. Thankfully, there was no livestock to deal with.

Carlisle and Esme don't know – they would be here too. Only you knew. How?

I tried desperately to tune out her deducing thoughts – she was very close to the truth, now. I'd have to explain momentarily, but first, I had to finish burning the barn…

I think I'll take a seat over here next to this stall, and rest for a moment.

"No!" I screamed. "Get out of here! Wait for me outside!" The flames were starting to spread, and the last thing I needed was her trapped again. I shooed her outside, for I doubted our luck would last through another rescue. Dumping the last bit of kerosene onto the four bodies, I threw the final lantern upon them, ensuring that no traces of her revenge would survive.

I sprinted around the floor one last time, fanning the smaller blazes into infernos before fleeing the perilous tinderbox. The hay in the mow was extremely dry; the barn would be fully engulfed long before anyone came to investigate.

You can read my mind.

Although I knew I should be thankful that she hadn't guessed the truth before my task was finished, I was nonetheless disappointed that she caught on so quickly. Never again would I underestimate Rosalie Hale.

Explain yourself, Edward!

Exiting the barn, I ran and grabbed her hand again, tugging her with me towards the dark forest to the north. At the very least, we needed refuge, far away from her retributions, so we could talk without fear of being overheard. I would circle back awhile later to make sure no human had grown suspicious of the crimes.

Why did you watch? Why didn't you stop me? Carlisle told me revenge was not an option - he doesn't know, does he?

Once we had reached a safe distance near a break in the trees, I slowed our pace, slumping in mental and emotional exhaustion against a large rock outcropping. If I could sleep, I would have crawled into a hole for days, trying to rid my mind of every last disturbing scene I had witnessed that evening.

"Edward." She murmured my name softly into the cool, dark air. Her tone was foreign – I had never heard her speak without either an edge to her words or obvious mockery in her tone. This time, she spoke from the heart, without the usual bitterness.

"You knew I was going to kill him, didn't you?"

I sighed disconsolately before answering. "Yes."

Although she had already guessed nearly everything, she was still rocked by my admittance. Rosalie swallowed and shook her head before speaking again.

"How did you know?"

"You already know." I wanted to hear her say it.

"You…read my mind, didn't you?"

I looked up and met her gaze squarely. "Yes."

She paused for a second. "How?"

I glanced over her shoulder, watching the dim orange glow of the barn fire through the trees. "I just did." I was too mentally drained to explain the finer details of my talents at that particular moment.

"Can you read Carlisle and Esme's minds?"

"Yes."

"Everyone? Even…humans?" Her voice cracked at the last word.

I nodded.

What am I thinking now? Four score and seven years ago…

"The Gettysburg Address."

Now she thoroughly believed me. Reeling backwards, she looked terrified, yet also curious. I watched her carefully. For the first time since she had awoke into immortality, she was displaying her true emotions. It was wonderfully refreshing after watching her pretending to be something she wasn't for so long.

Rosalie sank to her knees next to me.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"There was no reason to."

That's a bunch of crap.

A laugh escaped me. I looked up at her sheepishly, though I didn't know why I was ashamed by my reaction. She studied me inquisitively while continuing to fire questions telepathically.

Why did you let me come here? Carlisle insisted that I shouldn't.

"I…" What did I tell her? The truth? That I had empathized with her anger, her torment; that I agreed Royce and his cohorts should have all of the pain reciprocated back that they had inflicted on her, tenfold? I settled for the safest answer, instead.

"I knew you'd come one way or the other. I thought it was best if we left Carlisle and Esme out of it, for now."

But why did you come? To make sure I didn't expose you or your family?

"Partially, yes. And to make sure the job was done right." I refrained from telling her the other, more important reason why I came – because I identified with her inner pain.

Why else? I can see in your eyes that there's more.

I looked away again, debating on whether or not to share what I had heard in the barn before she made her dramatic entrance. To tell her would either appease the act once and for all, or drive her over the edge.

Tell me, Edward. Please.

"Before you arrived tonight, I was waiting in the barn while they played cards. I saw things in their minds, in Royce's mind." I looked up at her angelic face, glowing serenely in the moonlight. "Rosalie, you weren't the first girl he – brutalized."

She sucked in her breath and became still. I took a chance and continued.

"And you wouldn't have been the last if they were allowed to live."

Her face broke upon hearing these last words, the realization of what could have been her future finally sinking in.

I was engaged to an utter monster – someone more inhuman than any imaginable creature roaming this earth. How ironic that now I'm the inhuman monster…

"No, Rosalie, no," I whimpered, reaching out for her hand in solace. She bowed her head in shame, permitting me to touch her, but not reciprocating my actions. I did not blame her.

We sat silently, holding hands in the darkness, both afraid to speak. She continued to run memories of Royce through her mind, memories that were now tainted by this terrible revelation. She was seeing things differently now – instances where the indicators to his nature were present, yet she was too blinded by love and hope to see them for what they were. Repeatedly, she chastised herself.

"It's not your fault. He was a monster before you met him."

And now what am I? As inhuman as he? Sentenced to walk the earth for eternity, sustained only by the blood of my own kind?

"We don't have to live that way," I said quietly. I fought to put as much affirmation into my tone as possible, or she'd see right through my words.

"Animals," she spat. "I will be forced to hunt animals like some common beast."

I nodded. "Yes, it's the only way."

Her head perked up, and she turned to me, suddenly curious.

Why did you pull me from the fire? Extinguish my dress?

I pursed my lips together, refusing to answer her question.

That's how we die, isn't it?

I remained silent.

Your silence is the same as lying, Edward. I may not be able to read minds, but I can still read you.

She was absolutely right, and I hated it. "Yes, we can die by fire."

Then why did you bother saving me?

I closed my eyes tightly, no longer able to look at her. I felt her squeeze my hand once, reminding me that we were physically connected, as well as emotionally. This was the one question I had prayed she would not ask, because I myself didn't know the answer – or perhaps I didn't want to truly know the honest answer. Instead, I threw out the first logical response that came to mind.

"They couldn't find your body in the rubble with his. You're already dead, already buried."

She took in my excuse, testing it for validity. Thankfully, she accepted it.

What else didn't Carlisle tell me? Death by fire, your mind-reading abilities. Does Esme have the power to levitate?

I laughed despite myself; her sarcasm helped to discharge the growing tension between us and allowed some much-needed release from these strange, new emotions surging through my body. The person I was entirely prepared to hate was sitting next to me, holding my hand, and sharing a part of her broken self. Quite frankly, I did not know what to do about all of this - it had been an incredibly trying evening. But I was fairly sure that I wouldn't be able to handle it much longer.

Luckily, a resounding boom stirred me from my internal musings. Something had exploded on the King property, most likely the gunpowder stored in the barn.

"It's time to go back and make sure we left no trace," I said as I rose to my feet, pulling her with me.

We have to go back?

"You don't – stay here if you like, but I need to make sure no one suspects foul play. It'll make it easier for our family to leave unnoticed."

She chewed her lip and nodded slowly. I was vaguely aware that I was still holding her hand.

"Do you want to stay here?"

No. I don't want to be alone right now.

I gave her a resigned smile. "Okay. Let's get this over with." She squeezed my hand again.

Thank you, Edward.

I could only nod in response. The sudden feelings behind her thoughts had me completely befuddled. At that moment, Rosalie was silently thanking me for saving her life…for saving her from Royce in a way that neither of us could have ever imagined.