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We made it to Alice's house the next morning, with plenty of people to see us come through the already crowded streets. Alice's mother ran out the door and embraced Alice the moment she dismounted her horse. "Oh my darling, how was it?"

Alice laughed and hugged her mother back, "It was a fine trip. Nothing too bad. But I'm sure everyone would like a bath and some sleep in a real bed for a change."

Her mother laughed and came over to me. She smiled and took in my face, "It's nice to see you again Emaline, it's been far too long."

I smiled and dipped my head as is custom for someone's elder. "I agree. I thank you for hosting myself and my new husband, Emmett. It will be a help until we have enough money to get back on our feet."

Her eyes widened in understand and she smiled at Emmett, "It is very good to see you again as well. You know where the guest house is, correct?"

"Yes, Esme. Thank you for hosting us." Emmett smiled and grabbed our bags, "We are going to go unpack and I believe Emaline wishes for a bath, then we will come up to the main house."

Esme smiled and nodded, helping Alice with her few bags. Alice immediately began talking in hushed tones with her mother, and I knew they must have been discussing how to fix the family tree in the tavern.

Emmett led me around the house to a path in the back. He refused to let me carry any of the bags, claiming that no man around here would let his new bride carry her own bags. We made it to the guest house, and it looked very tiny from the outside, but also cozy and well-kept. Emmett guided me through the house and set my bags in one room, taking his to the other. I stood in the entry room and took in everything about the little home.

There was a large fireplace against one wall that was clearly used for the whole house during colder months. There was a single little table with four chairs around it. Two small pots for cooking and a wardrobe that stood off to the side. That would be perfect to hide in should I need to. There was a single window near the table, and you could see a water pump along with a large bathing basin nearby.

Emmett laughed at the look on the face as he came out of the bedroom, "Sorry, princess, but you won't find castle accommodations way out here."

I turned, scowling. "Very funny, Emmett. I think that I can manage."

He chuckled and went outside to begin pumping water into the basin. I stood at the window and watched him. It clearly wasn't a well-built pump because he struggled to get the water to come out. His muscles were working hard, and I couldn't deny that I enjoyed seeing them as he pumped the water.

"They are nice, aren't they?"

I jumped, spinning around to find Alice there looking out the window. "You scared me half to death, Alice!"

She laughed and sat down at the table, "I'm sorry, Rosalie. I think that we might need to cut your hair. It's a dead giveaway with so many guards being around."

I nodded, sitting across from her. "I agree. Can you cut hair?"

"Of course I can. It's probably best to do it now before the bath. Then any hair that's loose will come off in the water." Alice said, pulling some scissors out of a bag.

I sighed and let my long hair fall from the riding scarf. "Have your way with it then."

Alice giggled as she walked around behind me. "I promise it won't be too short." Alice was silent for several moments as she began snipping off pieces of my hair. I watched it fall to the floor and sighed, missing it already. Alice cleared her throat and then spoke again, "So umm…what do you think about Emmett?"

"I think he's very nice," I told her, confused at the direction. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering. He's a very protective guy, and I didn't know if you were okay with that."

I smiled, thinking about his selfless protection of me by staying here and keeping up the charade. "I am. I hate that it's putting his life on hold, but I am extremely grateful. I feel safe with him around."

I could hear the smile in Alice's voice. "I'm right up there at the main house if you ever need me, Rosalie. I just want you to know that. We are all here to help you in whatever way you need it."

"Thank you, Alice. Truly. For everything you are doing and risking to help me. A princess without a throne."

Alice stopped cutting and walked around me, kneeling in front of me. "You are the rightful leader of this kingdom and that is your throne. You are going to get it back."

Alice finished with my hair, and I immediately went to look in the small mirror. It now ended right above my shoulders, and was just long enough to be pulled back out of my eyes when it required to be. "Thank you, Alice. Really, it does look very nice."

Alice smiled and told me that they were working on the family tree and it should be back in place by nightfall, then she let herself out. Moments later, Emmett came back into the house and froze at the sight of me. "What the hell did you do while I was outside?"

I laughed and slid the lock on the door into place. "Alice just left. We decided that my hair was too much of a giveaway. So she cut it."

Emmett walked over, stopping in front of me and spun me in a circle. "Well it suits you, I suppose. Though I liked your hair."

I smiled and playfully poked his chest. "It just reminded you of the stranger girl in the forest taking a bath."

Emmett exploded in laughter at the mention of it. "You are one mean lady."

I gave him a wink before heading out for a bath in the closed in section at the back, "No, I'm one teasing princess."

Emmett watched me walked out of the room and I felt a blush rising to my face at the playfulness I felt around him. I took off my clothes and sighed as I slipped under the water. It felt so good to finally take a real bath and wash off the grime from traveling.

XxXxX

Emmett pumped more water and took a bath while I changed clothes and fixed my hair away from my face. Once he was finished, we made our way to the tavern. Night was beginning to set and Emmett held my hand when we got close to the tavern, having to keep up the appearance of a new husband. The tavern was full when we got inside and very loud. Alice was laughing at the bar and waved at us when we walked inside. I glanced up to the family tree and found my name carved onto the board, along with Emmett's since he would be my husband.

Emmett held out a chair for me at the table and slung his arm across my shoulders as he sat down beside me. He leaned in close and whispered in my ear. To anyone else we would look like nothing more than two newlyweds having a private conversation. "Relax, Rose. You look too formal."

I forced myself to relax and leaned into Emmett's touch. His one arm was around my shoulders while the other rested on my knee. "Better?"

He chuckled, breath moving against my hair, "Much. Are you okay with this?"

I smiled and moved my lips closer to his ear. "We need to keep up the charade, don't we? I'm perfectly fine with you around. Sorry if I'm cramping your ladies-man persona."

Emmett chuckled and ran his fingers along my shoulder. "You're the best girl in this room, Emaline."

I laughed and smiled as Alice came over with two mugs. "Drinks?"

We smiled, thanking her, and she made her way around the room serving everyone. Emmett pointed people out to me that he knew in the room and I noticed a couple women that kept stealing glances. I nudged him after awhile and motioned to two girls that kept glaring at me. "I think you have two admirers."

Emmett looked over to the girls who smiled and batted their eyelashes at his attention. He looked back to me and smirked, "How far do you want to take this charade?"

I smirked, figuring where he was going with this and met his eyes. "However far we need to so we convince people."

Emmett stared at my eyes for a moment and then his arm tightened, pulling me closer, and his lips were on mine. Everything seemed to escape us for a moment, and I found myself falling into the kiss. His lips were soft against mine, yet I felt how they could be commanding and strong. He broke the kiss after a moment, and I found myself breathing harder than I was before. He smiled and nodded in the direction of the women walking out the door, "I think that worked."

A blush bloomed on my cheeks and I looked away from him. "Who knew you were such a good actor?"

His hand lifted my chin so I met his gaze. His face became serious and he studied my eyes. "You okay? Was that too much?"

I shook my head and rested my hand on his arm, "It was pretty amazing." I admitted to him quietly. I smiled at the look on his face and then had to laugh at Alice's dumbfounded expression that had caught the kiss. Emmett saw what made me laugh and waved at Alice like nothing unusual had happened.

The rest of the evening was spent in the tavern until Alice admitted that she was exhausted and headed to bed. That was when Emmett and I decided to make our way back to the guest house. When we got inside, there was a strange tension at realizing we were truly alone in this tiny cabin. I waved and made my way toward the bedroom, "Good night, Emmett."

He watched me going and smiled, "Good night, Rose. Sleep well."

I shut the door behind me and a huge grin broke out on my face. I began unpacking my belongings and realization hit me like a brick. I need to be working toward getting my throne back, and that did not mean falling for a man that I would never be able to be with. I shook the thought of Emmett from my head and curled up on the bed, sighing at the feel of a real place to sleep.

Please, please review! You should also go check out my other new story, Like You. It's a Bella/Edward fic. Also, one last note, I've officially got a beta profile up and I'm accepting beta requests. So let me know if you need a beta reader!