Timeline wise, I'm not sure when this chapter takes place, it's sometime just after Alice and Jasper have joined the Cullen's and obviously before the book Twilight, also I could not for the life of me discover one of the character's mentioned name so I had to make one up. I apologize, if one of you does know the name then let me know and I'll edit it in, thanks. Standard Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.

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Mortality

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"I really don't want to talk right now, leave." Rosalie snarls as Esme hesitantly enters into her and Emmett's room, which like the rest of the house had been torn apart.

"I am so sorry."

"I said leave!" She yells, her eyes flashing with rage and anguish. "I don't even want to look at you, any of you! I hate you, GET OUT!"

However Esme doesn't take it personally and instead she steps forward and wraps the other girl in a hug. "I am so very sorry." She whispers softly, she can feel Rosalie tense in her arms, but she doesn't pull away or attack, so Esme takes it that she's on the right track.

"It's not fair!" Rosalie rages. "I hate it, I hate this stupid existence, and everyone it! And I hate Carlisle for condemning me to this! Why didn't he just let me die!? I hate him… I hate him…" Rosalie trails off her shoulders sagging in defeat as she rests her forehead on Esme's shoulder, wishing for tears that would never come, the anger and despair festering inside her like a hurricane of miasma.

Esme runs her fingers through the younger woman's hair, gently stroking her and offering her condolences. Rosalie had just learned that one of her brother's had died in a drunken accident. Worse for Rosalie though was that she would not even be able to attend the funeral because she would be recognized.

Initially she was going to go, she didn't care, her baby brother was dead and she was going to go to him, but the family had to step in and remind her what was at risk. Her parents, her other brother, people who had known her all those years ago, they would all be there and they would all know instantly who she was and then they would all be exposed, risking not only their lives but the lives of the humans as well. The Volturi wouldn't tolerate any breech of the secret and if they found out they would kill all involved just to be safe.

The rage that had taken over Rosalie at that point was unlike anything they had ever experienced before, she hadn't hurt them, she had had enough presence of mind to not attack them, but she had taken her rage out on everything else, literally destroyed their house to the point where they were going to have to move. Furniture, walls, the floor, she had been destruction incarnate as the crushing reminder of the state of her existence and all that she had lost came crumbling down on her.

"My brother is dead…" Rosalie whispers, "He's dead and I can't go to him, I can't see him, or say goodbye, nothing…"

Esme clenches her eyes shut and just holds Rosalie a little bit tighter not saying anything, because honestly, what could she say? What could she possibly say to make it alright for her? All of the condolences in the world, all of the useless platitudes and expressions meant absolutely nothing when faced with the harsh reality of the situation. Rosalie was immortal and unchanging and her family wasn't and the death of her brother was but the first of many she would have to endure as time passed them by.

"My mother, my father, they now think they've lost two children, ha…" Rosalie scoffs humorlessly, "They have lost two children, only one of them died and the other abandoned them for a fate worse than hell… and Robert, little Robby has now lost both his big sister and now his big brother… I should be there for him… he needs me… I have to go."

Esme pulls back just enough so that she can look Rosalie in the eyes, "You can't sweetheart, I know you want to and I would give anything for you to be able to go, but you can't." She says as gently as she can, hoping that it will lessen the blow and knowing that it won't.

"Please Esme, please… please let me go, please… I'll be careful, I won't be seen, I promise."

"You can't. I wish you could sweetheart but you can't." Esme could feel her heart breaking at the look of despair and hopelessness that settled onto Rosalie's face. Esme had been her last hope and for the sake of their lives she had to say no.

"Can I be alone now, please?" Rosalie asks meekly and all Esme can do is nod her head. She places her lips to Rosalie's forehead and then turns to leave. As she reaches the door she turns and looks at Rosalie one last time, wanting to say something, anything to help ease the pain, but nothing comes to her. As she shuts the door behind her the last thing she sees is Rosalie standing there, having not moved a muscle, staring forlornly into nothing.

Esme lets out a sigh as she heads downstairs and into the living room, hating the helplessness that she feels right now, wanting to make things better, but knowing nothing could heal this wound of Rosalie's except for time. But that was part of the problem, they had nothing but time. She looks to Carlisle, Edward, and Alice who had all had to play the bad guys in telling Rosalie she couldn't go to the funeral. They had all obviously heard the conversation and each of them looked wracked with guilt.

"I'm sorry, but it wouldn't have ended well." Alice says softly, this was the first time one of her visions had had an adverse effect on someone and so she was feeling a little lost. Unfortunately, no matter how many scenarios she ran, someone always recognized her.

"It's not your fault dear."

"If we could let her go… if we could let her go safely we would." Carlisle says, he looks stricken and Esme goes over to him to try and provide some comfort.

"How is she Edward?" Esme asks, she normally wouldn't pry but she was scared for her daughter and best friend right now.

Edward sighs, "She's reliving memories right now, some good, most of them… Alice, when will Emmett and Jasper get back?"

"Ten minutes, Emmett will be able to reach her." Alice says sadly, wishing she could do more.

"We should probably get started, we'll have to leave here pretty quickly." Carlisle says softly, motioning to the mess that used to be their living room.