Rosalie climbed the stairs of the imposing mansion with Emmett behind her. She winced when the double doors swung open, revealing a figure draped in red silk and carrying a glass of blood as if it were wine. Vibrant red eyes landed on her, and Rosalie allowed white-painted fingertips to grip her jaw and turn her head from left to right. The hand dropped away, and Rosalie let her chin fall to her chest.

"You dare return to me in this state? Have you no shame?"

Rosalie knew better than to try and defend herself.

"I should have never let you-" The woman stopped and waved off the statement before it ever truly formed. "Nevertheless, you will feed properly as soon as you step over my threshold. I can tell you have not had a decent meal since you left. Understood?"

"Yes, Mama," Rosalie said.

Humming in satisfaction, the woman's eyes shot to Emmett.

"The same goes for you. You are terribly thin for someone your size."

"Yes, Mama."

"Oh, and leave your shoes outside. I just had the floors waxed, and I do not intend on having that miserable human back in my home any sooner than the schedule permits."

The older vampire sauntered inside, and Rosalie immediately kicked off her heels. She placed them beside a pair of muddy combat boots and released a slow breath. She glanced up at Emmett, recognizing that he was waiting on her, having already taken off his shoes and left them near the stairs. He held out his hand, and Rosalie let him pull her into the house. It'd been thirty years since they'd seen JC - Mama - and Lil Beaux, and Rosalie's guilt for leaving hadn't faded. They closed the door behind them, cutting out what little light was getting in through the foyer. A glass was thrust in her direction, and Rosalie couldn't help the low growl that escaped once she smelled the blood.

"I know your stance on human blood is based on your desire to remain as human as possible," JC said softly, "but despite what Carlisle told you, it is more human for a vampire to drink what sustains us rather than deny ourselves the nourishment. Animal blood weakens you, and I cannot, will not, allow you to suffer any longer. This is the blood that was given freely, donated, and stored in perfect conditions. A glass a day during your visit will return you to a much healthier state." JC stepped closer and cupped Rosalie's cheek with her other hand. "My little one, I will never force you to be a monster. But I will always put your well-being before anything else. Now drink, please. For me."

Rosalie sighed and took the glass. It was an age-old argument that Rosalie had many times behind closed doors. The Denali coven admitted that they lived on a mixed diet, feeding from humans twice a month to maintain their strength and natural abilities, but they survived mostly on animals. It was a balance that worked for them, but Carlisle made it clear their relationship suffered because of it. But she was no longer a part of that coven, and it was time for her to figure out her path.

Rosalie exhaled from her nose and drank the entire glass. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Emmett finishing his glass as well. They shuddered in unison, and it was almost embarrassing how much better Rosalie felt. The exhaustion from driving non-stop, wondering if Bella was alive or dead, and hoping the girl would forgive Rosalie's cowardice. But after the blood, she felt present for the first time in a few days. JC plucked the glasses away from them and was gone before Rosalie blinked. Yet the vampire returned, her eyebrow arched and expectant.

"We left the coven," Rosalie said, answering JC's unspoken question. "Again," she added under her breath.

"Hm."

A door opened upstairs, and the three turned in unison as Beaux, a grifter and con artist who was a hundred times more efficient than Jenks at getting forged paperwork, and Rosalie's unofficial brother, slid down the stair railing. He landed barefoot near Emmett and smirked.

"Well, if it ain't the prodigal daughter and son. You still pretending to be Cullens or you grown up now?" Rosalie flinched hard, and Emmett looked away. "Oh, don't tell me you're shy now? The animal lovers must've gotten you twisted all up."

"Enough, Beaumont," JC said. "I would hate to run them off for another thirty years."

"Mama, I'm so sorry we left for so long," Rosalie said. "We just -

"I would prefer you not to lie about why you left or stayed away."

Rosalie swallowed the excuse and nodded. JC inclined her head and left the room, leaving a trail of perfume in her wake. Beaux frowned and leaned sideways against the railing, folding his arms.

"I ain't as forgiving as our Mama. How you come here asking for refuge when you two woke up one morning and decided you ain't wanna be one of the lost kids anymore, huh? You went back to the same folks that caused you to run away in the first place. All wide-eyed and innocent like you ain't been slinging mud with us deviants in the bayou. I have half a mind to send you the way you came."

"I need to find my mate." The confession didn't startle or surprise Beaux, but she was too far gone to notice. "Her name's Isabella. Is. Was. I don't know. But it feels like my heart is constantly breaking without her around."

"And what does any of that mean to me?"

"Please They took her from me, Beaux. They made her their best friend, their project, their human experiment to test how well they could blend in, and I never got the chance to know her. I had to watch from the sidelines every time she came around. Her smiles were never given freely, but it was like the sun was shining whenever she did, her laugh came in intervals like she was afraid of someone hearing it, but it was the sweetest symphony I'd ever heard, and she spoke as if poetry was the first language she'd ever learned. She was beautiful, so beautiful and smart and kind and sweet and funny and – and she was mine, Beaux. Now, I don't even know if she's dead–

Rosalie's breath caught in her throat, and she was suddenly surrounded by hibiscus and honey.

"Aw, hell, Rosie," Beaux muttered. "You got it bad, don't you?"

"Yeah," she laughed and hugged him back. "I really do."

Beaux moved back and brushed her hair away from her face. He seemed conflicted, wincing and glancing around the room, then he shook his head and sighed. "She ain't dead," he said. Then he held up his hand to cut her off and added, "I can't give you more than that, alright? Trust me, I already broke my promise telling you that."

"Promise? What - what are you talking about? How do you know Bella isn't dead? Who-

"Rosalie, please. I ain't a man who likes breaking his promises, but you're my sister, and I'll give up state secrets for you. So, please, don't ask me the specifics. She ain't dead, and that's all I can tell you."

Rosalie moved back a half-step, looking him in the eyes, and she was about to press the issue when Emmett put his hand on her shoulder.

"Is she safe?" he asked.

Beaux laughed and said, "Yeah."

Emmett gave Rosalie a look when she went to respond, and she scowled. She nodded at Beaux, and he breathed out in relief.

"Thank you. I'm assuming you came here for more than making amends?" he asked.

When Rosalie just glared at the wall, Emmett took over and said, "Yes. Rose and I need a new start."

Beaux gestured toward the hallway. Rosalie shrugged off Emmett's hand with an annoyed glare as they followed Beaux to his 'office.' When they got inside, Emmett sat down on the couch, and Rosalie stood against the far wall. Beaux moved to his cabinets. He pulled out stacks of blank birth certificates, forged documents, passports, and transcripts.

"Bear with me. Some black mark came in and destroyed my files when I told him I wouldn't help him."

"I thought black marks couldn't come here," Emmett said, confused.

"This one decided the rules didn't apply to him," Beaux huffed. "Real piece of work too. He was lucky I was even home. I was supposed to be in Portland that week." He took out two folders and tossed them to the side. "Anyway, I'm working on a new project when some dick's named Lauren or something French comes running in here. Begging me to help him, but he was marked. Dumbass didn't even have on a shirt to cover it up either. He wrecked my office before Mama took care of him."

Beaux made a careless gesture to the fireplace in the corner, and he went back to searching through his files. When neither Emmett nor Rosalie responded, he looked over his shoulder. Emmett was perched on the edge of the couch, mouth wide open, and Rosalie's eyes were darker than he'd ever seen.

"What?" he asked.

"Are you sure his name wasn't Laurent?"

"Yeah, maybe. Actually, it was. I remember thinking what a strange name for a dude. How'd you know?"

"Beaux, I need you to think real hard. Did he say anything about someone named Victoria?" Emmett said.

"Ain't that the one hunting Bella?" he asked, scrunching his face. And then he paused, having the sudden feeling that he said too much. Rosalie narrowed her eyes at him, and Beaux waved his hand, continuing, "Listen, the details are sketchy. I've probably got it all types of wrong. Let's focus on what we do know-

"It seems like you know a hell of a lot more than we do!" Rosalie exclaimed.

"No, no. I don't know anything more than that," he said. He winced and added, "Bella wasn't so forthcoming with that information the last time we talked. Plus, it's not like Victoria can find her. Bella did a damn good job covering her tracks, and she had me -

Beaux stopped and cleared his throat. That time, he was positive that he said too much.

"Hold on, you helped her disappear?" Rosalie asked.

"We're veering into dangerous territory."

"But -

"Rose, let it go. We'll be going in circles if we keep this up."

"I promise I'm not being difficult. I genuinely can't tell you anything else."

Rosalie rolled her eyes and turned toward the wall, and Emmett shook his head.

"Can you make us new documents or not?" he asked.

"Yes," Beaux answered tiredly. "But I have to make everything by hand. Where are you trying to go?"

"Lima, Ohio," he said.

Beaux twitched and turned.

"Why there?"

"Rose has a friend there who agreed to give us a place to hide until she can track down Bella."

"Unless you want to just tell me where she is," Rosalie said.

Beaux ignored her and said, "Well, you're in luck. I did a Lima package about, oh, maybe eighty years ago for a witch. She was desperate, trying to escape an abusive marriage, and I set her up there. Last I heard, she'd settled down with a good man, had a couple of cute kids and even cuter grandkids, and they all inherited her gifts. Anyway, the town's probably changed since then. I might have to research what's out there, what's available. What are you two looking for? You wanna age up a bit?"

"I'd like to be legal," Emmett said. "No more high school, please."

"At least, not attending it," Rosalie added. "But I agree. No more seventeen and eighteen."

"I can do that. Who wants to be older?"

"Rose should be older."

"Got any name preferences?"

"Are the old ones still in use?"

Beaux smirked and said, "I burned those papers."

"Petty," Emmett muttered.

"But well deserved."

"Touché."

"I'm thinking something simple but true enough. Let's use Emmett his time. Some country roots might work." Beaux bobbed his head and stared at the ceiling in thought. "I like the McHale siblings from Louisiana; a small town off the beaten path that no one will look too closely into. You two can decide whatever else you want, but that'll be the base."

"Sounds good to me."

"You can spare me a few hours to get this done?" he asked.

"We aren't due in Lima till next Wednesday."

Beaux snorted out a laugh but waved it off.

"Sorry, I have a million things going through my head right now. But if you're looking for the kind of clean-cut you're hinting at, you're going to need a lot more than a name change. Your old coven has some dangerous gifts; you know they'll come knocking at some point. Alice is a sneaky thing."

"In what way?"

"Hair dye, contacts, and maybe some aesthetic alterations. I'll see how much dye I got stashed upstairs."

"Dye?" Emmett asked.

"I created a formula a couple of months ago that's safe. I made enough of it in about five shades of blonde, three shades of red, a couple of black dyes, and two shades of gray." Emmett's face lit up with the possibilities. "I'll bring the shades down when I come back. Until then, be thinking about who you want to be. Not just the name, but the person as well. You need to come up with an entirely new life here. Rosalie Hale and Emmett Cullen are dead," he added.

With that, Beaux strolled out of the room, passing his mother on the way out.

"Heading up for a second, Mama. Got some work," he said.

JC waved him off, and when he was gone, Beaux pulled out his phone. He was about to text Bella when he stopped and smirked. He pocketed his phone and headed upstairs to his workshop. He swore he wouldn't tell Rosalie where Bella was, and it would be unfair of him to tell Bella that Rosalie was already on her way.


JC appeared in the office and leaned on the doorframe. She stared at her children, studying them, and then she folded her hands over her stomach.

"Are you going to tell me what happened that brought you home after so long?" she asked.

"It's a long story."

"We have nothing but time."

Rosalie and Emmett shared a look before Emmett sat back, gesturing for her to go first. Rosalie played with the hem of her shirt and stared at the wall. She wore a wistful but sad smile.

"It started with Alice's very stupid vision," she said, "of a girl named Isabella."