Chapter 26 - How Luck You Are To Have Something That Makes Saying Goodbye So Hard

Amber's POV

Gin! I yell triumphantly as I slam my cards onto the card table.

I'm rewarded with a victory kiss from Rose as she made her way back over to me from the kitchen.

She places the new jack and coke on my empty coaster then slips back onto my lap.

I can't help the smug look that I give to the Cullen boys over the fact that I managed to win another hand.

It has been a wonderful night filled with love and laughter.

It's been bittersweet knowing that I'm on borrowed time, but that somehow makes these types of memories so special.

I know that I'll be reliving this night along with all of my other treasured memories over and over while I'm gone.

The dopey smile on Jasper's face tells me that he's thinking about Alice. I know that it's a similar look that I have whenever I look at Rose.

After Alice had placed Jasper's whiskey sour onto the table she draped her arms around his shoulders from behind as she leaned onto him with her chin on his shoulder.

Jasper and I share a look and I know that he's picking up on the love flowing around the room as well.

We're interrupted from starting the next hand by Bella's voice as she called Edward's name from the stairs right before she makes her way into the room.

"Edward, are you coming to bed? It's past midnight." Bella says softly.

Emmett and I both simultaneously say "Uh oh you're in trouble" then we break out into giggles as we share a high five.

"It is pretty late, we should head to bed. Come along Jasper." Alice says matter-of-factly as she drags Jazz out of the room.

The look on his face tells me that he doesn't mind one bit.

We exchange good nights and Rosalie all but pulls me up the stairs. In no time she's thrown me through a doorway and her body collides with mine making the door slam behind my back.

I'm confused, but I honestly could care less as her lips make contact with mine.

We kiss in a passionate embrace for awhile, but eventually we slow down till Rosalie is just snuggled into my chest with her head resting into my neck.

I let out a sigh as the reality of the situation reaches to the front of my brain.

"It's weird don't you think?" I can't help but ask.

"Hmm" Rose absently asks.

"We've only been dating for such a short time, but it feels like so much longer." I pause for a few seconds as I gather my thoughts and Rosalie picks her head up off my chest to look me in the eyes "I mean in a way we have been dating a for a long time. Kind of like dating without actually dating? We've gone out and did things together, had dinners. and spent time getting to know each other."

Rosalie cups my jaw and gives me a tender kiss, but leaves her hand cupping my face. After she pulls away from the kiss she says "It does seem like we have been doing the dating thing for awhile doesn't it?"

I can't resist giving her another kiss, just because I could.

"This is different though, because I know that my affections are returned and I can physically show you my feelings."

Rosalie smiles at me as she says "I know what you mean. I have wanted to touch you since I first laid eyes on you and I wanted to kiss you since that first night that you walked me home after that Jewler appointment for Carlisle's pocket watch." Rose kisses me to emphasize her point.

The self satisfied smirk naturally makes it's way onto my face.

I take a deep breathe and settle myself for what I'm about to say.

"Rose, I don't know what your expectations are for tonight, but I don't want our first time to be a rushed event that we feel we have to do because I'm leaving."

When I see the look on Rosalie's face I think that I have not only put my foot in my mouth, but that I miss read the situation and have now royally fucked up.

I internally start to panic as I try to figure out a way to explain myself so that I can salvage not only tonight, but our relationship.

I'm brought out of my internal panic by the feeling of Rosalie's hand softly rubbing on my upper chest to gain my attention.

"It's okay. It's okay. I feel the exact same way. I know that it does feel like we've been together for a long time now, but you're right it is too soon to take that step." Rosalie reassures me that we're on the same page.

"Besides when we do finally take that step ideally your family won't be in ear shot...at least the first time, because I bet you're a screamer...at least you will be." I say with a cheeky smile.

Rose's only response is to smack he palm onto my chest in a scolding manner before she angrily walks away from me and the door that she had backed me into.

Rosalie squeals in surprise as I grab her and throw her onto the bed with her securely in my arms.

Her laughter let's me know that she isn't that upset with me.

That's when I realize that we're in Rosalie's room.

Of course I have been in here before, but a picture beside the bed caught my attention.

It's not only new, but it's a picture that I haven't seen before.

Seeing what had caught my attention Rosalie smiles as she says "Emmett gave that to me. Apparently he took a few pictures that night."

It's a picture taken only a few seconds after Rosalie had kissed my cheek after I won her the stuffed animal at the carnival and I have a dopey smile on my face with just a hint of pink to my cheeks. I love the look of content on Rose's face in the picture.

As I look around I can't help but smile as I see another photo on her vanity. It's a 'family picture that was taken during one of the family dinners that Mike and I came to.

I love the fact that the picture she chose to look at when she gets ready every morning has all of us in it together.

It shows that family is just as important to Rose as it is to me. Not only that, but she chose a picture that includes Mike. That speaks volumes.

The last picture that I notice is on her bookshelf. I can't place where the picture was taken.

"Its from the night of the 'With Confidence' concert. Alice gave it to me when we got back from your Grandparents place." Rosalie informs me.

It's a picture taken sometime before we left for the show. I'm sitting on the counter with Rose casually leaning back into me as we're all laughing and having a great time.

Rosalie seems to hesitate before adding "I have mixed feeling about that picture. On one hand I love it and all of the memories that it brings, but it's also a reminder of the night that almost broke us apart completely. I've always had a difficult time sorting through my emotions and that picture reminds me to not let my temper ruin my future."

I gently cup the side of Rosalie's jaw as I smile softly at her. After I lean down and give her a soft kiss I whisper "And what a wonderful future it will be."

As we start making ourselves comfortable it's when I realize that I only have a few pictures of not only the family and I, but of Rosalie and I.

At that moment Alice barrels through the door as she simultaneously knocks on it.

She throws a stack of photos onto my lap and twirls out of the door slamming it so fast that the book that Rosalie threw at her hit the closing door.

I can't help but laugh at the awkward moment while Rose just sulks.

I kiss her pout away as I sit up to look at the photos.

That's how we spend the rest of the night, cuddled together laughing and reminiscing over the stack of photos.

In between kisses we talk about all of the new memories that we know we still have yet to create together.