Esme

The evening passed quietly. Rosalie remained on the couch; shifting position occasionally but she remained settled sitting with Emmett. Alice refused to move from her side and was subconsciously flicking through the channels on the TV without really stopping to look at any of them. Rosalie didn't seem to mind this; she was always deep in her own thoughts, and I would have loved to get a glimpse into her mind.

Edward laughed lightly from where he was playing at the piano. "Her thoughts are always all over the place," He dropped his tone so that Rosalie wasn't able to hear him. "I can't ever make out anything concrete. I know she feels settled and safe, but I can't really figure out what she's thinking. It's usually just a mess of colors – mostly a mix of grey and black but there's some lighter colors there today. She's really good at blocking her mind, as though she senses someone is trying to figure her out."

I smiled at that but couldn't help feeling a little sad. Rosalie had learned to block her mind – she had barriers and walls from deep trauma. I could only imagine what her life had been like growing up with parents as cold as hers. I wanted her to know she was loved, and I really hoped I was able to give her the maternal affection she craved.

Just after 8pm, Rosalie began violently throwing up. The bowl was there waiting for her, and she cried as Alice rubbed her back. Emmett had his arms tight around her and was reassuringly talking to her. She was holding her stomach as though she was in pain and sweat began to pool across her forehead.

The episode was over within minutes, and she sunk back against Emmett's strong chest in exhaustion. Tears were still silently falling down her face and she clenched her eyes shut as though it may help stop the crying. She opened them just as quickly as she had closed them and scanned the room with fear-stricken eyes. They stopped scanning when they found my face.

Rosalie tried to push herself out of Emmett's grasp, and he let go when he realized she was reaching for me. She broke into a run as her bare feet hit the living room floor although I was only across the room on the chair next to the fireplace.

I wasn't entirely sure she was looking for me, but her eyes remained fixed on my face.

Within seconds, her fevered body flung into my open arms, and she wrapped herself around me. Her hot cheek pressed into my neck and shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her naturally. My motherly instincts were kicking in as I came to the realization that Rosalie needed me. Rosalie was seeking comfort from me.

"Rosalie?" I questioned cautiously. I wasn't entirely sure what to do in this situation, but I knew I needed to comfort the small human in my lap.

Her breathing was labored, and I could feel her stomach pushing against mine as though she was struggling to take in air. Her body was still struggling to cope with the stress of her illness. The pneumonia and the stomach bug were definitely not helping matters.

Edward cautiously came close to us from his perch at the piano. He had grabbed the oxygen from Emmett's bedroom and touched Rosalie lightly on her back to get her attention.

She turned in my lap, so her cheek was pressed against my chest and she was lying sideways. She looked at Edward; her mouth open as she drew in breath. Sitting so close to her, I could hear the crackle in her lungs as she breathed.

Edward smiled warmly as though to reassure Rosalie. "I think it's best that we use oxygen again, just to help you with your breathing. Your body is under a lot of stress."

Rosalie simply nodded and allowed Edward to hook her back up to the oxygen. When he was done, she turned closer to my cold body and closed her eyes. The faintest noise came from her lips and I froze. "Mum," Rosalie barely whispered as she pressed her fragile hand against mine.

If I was human, my heart would have shattered into a thousand pieces. I swallowed deeply and hugged Rosalie tighter. She had called me mum. It was my job to protect her at all costs.

My beautiful daughter, Rose.

Alice - A short time later

Things were starting to fall into place. Rosalie seemed more aware and more comfortable than she had been when she first arrived. The illnesses raging through her body were definitely having an impact on her, but she was getting better. It still made me a little anxious to hear the instability of her heart and the crackling of her lungs. I wished that I could switch off from it but I was always hyperaware in case anything happened to her.

Esme was floating around downstairs, but everyone else was out. Some had gone to hunt; Carlisle was at work; Edward and Bella had taken a little trip.

I had been in my room for most of the morning; just to give Rosalie some time to herself without everyone on top of her. I was still keeping tabs on her from where I sat on my bed. I could hear everything.

Eventually, I stood and slowly made my way across the hallway. Rosalie had been humming for around an hour, but now lyrics were starting to flow from her lips.

I remembered her saying that she liked to sing, but I hadn't heard her sing since being at the house. Perhaps she had been too unwell.

I smiled slightly; hoping that this was a sign that things were getting better.

I stood in the doorway of the room quietly for a few moments. She hadn't noticed that I was there yet.

She was sat near the window; staring out towards the river. The words were easily flowing from her lips at this point, and I heard Esme admiring Rosalie's voice from downstairs.

"Why should I have a heavy heart? Why should I start to break in pieces? Why should I go and fall apart for you? Why should I play the grieving girl and lie, saying that I miss you and that my world has gone dark without your light? I will sing no requiem tonight."

"That's a beautiful song." Although I spoke slowly and gently, I still managed to make Rosalie jump. I smiled apologetically as she looked towards me. "Did you write it?"

A small shade of pink slowly filled Rosalie's cheeks and it reminded me of human Bella for just a moment. She nodded as I sat down next to her. "It's about my parents..."

I nodded but didn't press further. Rosalie hadn't spoken about her parents and I had often wondered whether she was too ill to acknowledge what was really going on. Though after hearing her song, it seemed she had been trying to process it internally all this time.

She was so young and she'd gone through so much. Heck, we all had, but something about Rosalie made my heart feel like it was breaking into a million pieces. She just seemed so fragile but also so stubborn and strong. She knew what she wanted; she was strong willed; but it was though she would shatter and fall apart in a second. It really made me realize how fragile human life really was.

It was hard for me to wrap my head around. She was one the most interesting humans I'd ever come across, but I knew that we were going to be best friends one day.

Rosalie smiled at me reassuringly and for a moment it felt as though she could read my thoughts. She turned back to face the window and closed her eyes as sound continued to escape her lips.