1945 - Rosalie

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"Rosalie,

How are you my dear? How are our families? I have not received word from you since my arrival at the camp. I blame it on bad postal logistics.

Remember how we used to dance in my mothers kitchen? How I long for those times, my sweet. To hold you in my arms again and kiss you when I desire. I love you and I promise I'm coming back to you. In one life or another, I'll come back and make you my wife. You hold my heart in your hands, and I don't want it back. It's yours.

I love you.

Emmett Cullen"

My hand slipped back into the brown envelope and retrieved the watch. I unwrapped the white protection cloth and touched the bracelet. I remember the birthday when Carlisle gave him this present. Putting the watch aside, I reached into the brown envelope once again.

My fingers traced the black and white photograph. It was taken in the garden at the Cullens house. I remembered the day so well. It was summer, a Sunday somewhere at the end of June. The Cullens invited me and my parents over for afternoon tea followed by dinner. My mother insisted on me wearing my pearls and my best dress. Of course I wanted to look nice, but I just couldn't understand why she pushed it so much. I did as she said anyway and wore my pearls and my soft white dress.

My father wasn't really talkative that day. He just sent me a smile every now and then.

I felt strange, caught between my fluttering mother and my quiet father, so I was happy when we finally made it to the Cullens. And I was happy to finally see Emmett again.

At some point, between tea and dinner Emmett snuck us out back into the garden. He picked one of his mothers flowers and put it in my hair. The warm sun shone down on us and I remember feeling so happy.

The wind played with my hair, and when I reached up to wipe away a loose strand, Emmett caught my hand. With his other hand he reached up and traced my face with his fingertips. I blushed at the intimate gesture and looked down. My stomach fluttered. He always made me so nervous.

"Rose." He said softly, making me look back up into his eyes.

"Can I ask you a question?" He looked serious and his eyes were searching mine.

"Beside the one you just asked?" I teased. It made him smile.

"Yes, beside the one I just asked." He turned serious again but the twinkle in his eyes remained.

"Yes, you can ask me a question." I said.

"Rosalie, I intent on asking you a question, and I hope your answer will prevent me from ever having to ask it again." He took of both my hands in his and sank down to one knee.

"Rosalie Lillian Hale, I love you with all my heart. Are you willing to spend the rest of your life with me? Will you let me care for you as your husband, and will you let me love you as my wife? Will you marry me?"

My world stopped turning.

"Will I… I… What?" I couldn't find words.

Emmett chuckled softly and shook his head slightly.

"Twice it is. Rosalie Lillian Hale, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

"I heard you the first time, you goof!" I cried out. "Yes, yes! I will marry you." I dropped to the ground and hugged myself to his body, my face buried in his neck.

"You will?" He laughed, returning my embrace.

"Yes!" I pulled back and through my tears I managed a smile. He smiled back at me, his expression soft. His hand reached up and cupped my cheek. He leaned in and I met his lips halfway.

"Thank you." He whispered when he pulled back.

I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I couldn't control the delighted sound I made when he pulled me back into a tight embrace.

When we walked back to the house to share our news, Alice came bursting through the backdoor.

"You said yes?!" She grinned and flung herself into my arms.

"I said yes!" I squealed.

"This is going to be so much fun! We are really sisters now!" Alice bounced up and down excitedly, her eyes big.

"Alice!" Emmett laughed.

More footsteps approached and when I looked I saw our parents coming over to us. Both of our mothers wore big smiles on their faces. Our fathers following behind in quiet contentment. Esmé had anticipated a positive answer and had prepared a grand dinér to celebrate.

After dinner, Carlisle put the gramophone player in the kitchen. With the door to the back yard opened wide and the volume as loud as possible, we danced.

I remember how Esmé suddenly called out for Emmett and me just as his arms slipped around my waist and he lifted me off my feet. I laughed at his actions and turned to look at Esmé. A smile still on my face. That's when she snapped the picture. Me and Emmett. Him holding me in his arms.

I put the photograph and Emmett's letter aside and picked up the first letter again.

"Dear Mrs. Hale,

After the closing of the camp I found a letter written by a Emmett Cullen to you.

During the war the camp protocol called that every letter sent to or out of the camp was opened and searched for valuable information. Not much letters made it through this inspection and most of them got destroyed and never reached the recipient.

Against protocol, some letters were saved. After the liberation personal belongings were given back to the survivors. The personal belongings of the deceased are being send back to their families.

The archive released the watch I sent you as the only valuable possession of Mr. Cullen.

Because of the unfortunate passing of Mr. Cullen, you are, as his fiancée, righted to receive his possessions.

Therefore, with this letter I sent you a letter written by Mr. Cullen that got held back at postal inspections, a photograph and the watch.

My sincere condolences for your loss.

Susanna Woidich

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