Beasts Are About

AN: Here's the update, finally! We're finally getting to the good parts! Thanks to everyone who reviewed it means so much.

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"...I'm ready."

Bella waited, breath held tightly in her lungs, her heart pounding furiously in her chest, waiting for her world to be absolutely rocked with the dramatic reveal. That is until she saw hunger in eyes that usually shine with flirty playfulness, and the way Rosalie's wicked lips were giving her a condescending sort of smirk. In fact, the word predatory was currently flashing in Bella's mind, what is worse was that instead of warning bells going off in her head, butterflies erupted in her stomach. A predatory Rosalie was a fucking hot Rosalie.

"Rose?" Bella asked once more, nervousness trying to creep in again as she fought off the dirty, dirty thoughts currently running through her brain. Her body, as it subconsciously tried to protect itself from Rose's intimidating figure, took a staggered step back which turned out to be more of a shuffle as Rosalie didn't seem all too concerned about releasing Bella from her grasp. No, Rose was far more intent on keeping the space between them as minimal as possible, so when Bella took an automatic step back, Rose followed. They shuffled backward that way, Bella like a deer in the headlights and Rosalie like a snake ready to strike, until Bella's back hit Rosalie's red Mercedes.

"Bella, do you know the author J. Sheridan Le Fanu?" The question wasn't enough to break whatever enchantment Rosalie had cast over her, but it was random enough for her brain to actually register it.

Bella nodded almost instantly, because yes, she was very familiar with the name. "That's who wrote-" Bella's brain seemed to short circuit here as two things happened at once. First, it was Bella's realization that J. Sheridan Le Fanu was responsible for writing Carmilla. A vampire story that predated Dracula and had heavy, heavy lesbian subtext. So, yeah big realization of where Rose was heading with this, but it was really the second thing to happen that rendered Bella speechless.

Rose leaned in so that her cheek pressed firmly against Bella's and her lips rested at the top of Bella's ear as she started to purr while simultaneously she quoted the very book Bella had been thinking of. " You must come with me, loving me, to death; or else hate me and still come with me, hating me through death and after. There is no such word as indifference in my apathetic nature. "

Bella racked her brain for anything to say but what could she say to a beautiful vampire who was quoting beautiful words right into her ear, especially as she held Bella's body captive with her own. She just could not get over how Rose's words were affecting her. The revelation of Rosalie being a vampire should have at least been a little bit shocking but It wasn't, mostly because Rose had always been inhuman in Bella's mind, it never had made sense that Rose was an ordinary human like Bella. There was also the fact that Rose had already semi spilled the beans so Bella had prepared herself for anything.

The sensation of Rosalie's body pressed against her own was making Bella focus on all the wrong things. Her hands itched as she wanted to place her hands on Rosalie's waist and hold her there to relish the closeness. She wasn't concerned for her safety as Rosalie tilted her head down so that Bella could feel her breath upon her neck. Chills erupted over her skin and the only thoughts running through her brain was that she could never hate Rose. Never. Bella couldn't even think of the consequences of Charlie finding out about this little scene that was playing out in public.

"I can hear your heart racing." Rosalie took another deep breath with her nose now fixated on Bella's pulse point. Then, in a breathy tone, she asked, "Are you afraid?"

She could have asked this out of genuine concern, if it weren't for the amusement coating her words. Yes Bella's heart was racing, and yes, she hadn't yet spoken, but it wasn't because she was afraid and Rosalie seemed to know this. Bella realized, she's teasing. Bella took a deep breath.

"Only if we're still going shopping."

That did it. Rosalie's head tilted back as she let out a boisterous laugh, something that seemed so out of character for the blonde bombshell and yet it suited her perfectly. The sound made warmth blossom in Bella's chest and when Rosalie encircled her arms about Bella's neck, pulling her in close as she continued to laugh in Bella's ear, Bella's hands finally did what they wanted and returned the embrace by winding around Rosalie's waist and keeping them there.

The purr in Rosalie's chest started up again making Bella giggle. Rosalie flexed her arms, and Bella could now sense the power behind the blonde's hold. Bella couldn't remember a time when she felt so safe. "No, we don't have to go shopping today, but just know this means we'll both have to make it up to Alice."

Bella laughed though she was more focused on keeping her hands from drifting from their safe place at the small of Rosalie's back than Rosalie's actual words. She even had to stop herself from asking Rosalie if she'd always smelt so good or if the blonde had recently changed her perfume.

"That's fine." Bella murmured, a bit distracted by the fog that was slowly creeping over her mind as she continued to be assaulted by the feel of Rosalie's body and the smell of her perfume. Bella truly felt like she'd been drugged.

Rosalie's small laugh sounded more like the confident and slightly mocking Rosalie she'd come to know. "Will you do something for me, Bella? It'll get Alice off our backs and it'll make me very happy."

Bella perked up at this, and the fact that Rosalie leaned back enough so she could watch Bella's face. Bella nodded, "Of course." She hadn't needed to think about it because of course she wanted to make Rosalie happy and if it meant that Alice wouldn't be upset over the canceled shopping trip then that just made it better.

Rosalie smirked in that slightly evil but definitely hot way of hers and Bella swallowed deeply.

"I want you to meet my family."

--

Bella had insisted on showering and changing her clothes before heading over to the Cullens house, no matter how many times Rosalie assured her that she looked, and smelt fine. Bella knew Rose could hear everything, she'd gathered that much in the past weeks, but smell too? Lord help her. So Rose dropped her off with a kiss to the cheek and a promise to collect her around six. Something else might have been said, but Bella was having trouble staying calm under the lingering effects of Rosalie's small affections, and then there was the realization that this was going to be the first time she hangs out with Rose without any pretenses, and for it to be with the whole Cullen family present was, honestly, a bit of a let down.

Bella hadn't envisioned the 'after' part of the reveal like this but beggars couldn't be choosers, and she still planned to get all her questions answered.

So caught up in planning her line of questioning, Bella didn't hear the front door slamming as she excited the shower, but then the unmistakable sound of heavy boots rushing up the stairs slammed her back to reality. She hurried to wrap her robe around herself and exit the bathroom before Charlie got to the landing, of course luck wasn't on her side and she opened the bathroom door to find a surprised, and sober, Charlie taking the last step.

They both stood there awkwardly, Bella wondering why he didn't just brush past her with a mumbled word like usual, and why did he look worse sober than he did drunk? Bella watched as Charlie's eyes shifted nervously from her left, to her right eye and then to the floor. His hands must have been quite sweaty as he kept wiping them on his dark khaki pants and his face was flushed. Bella obviously got the bad blushing habit from him, she had thought he always looked red from the alcohol.

Bella shifted to her right toward her room. Charlie finally looked back up at her movement. "Haven't had a drink today."

Though his sudden admission confirms her suspicion about him being sober, it was strange for Bella as Charlie never really discussed his habits with her. Bella felt awkward, so she shrugged. "I'm going to a friend's house…you still have a bottle in the freezer."

She felt helpless saying it, of course he only spoke to her because he couldn't find his alcohol and when Charlie's shoulders sag, she assumes it must be in relief; it makes Bella angry. Without another look, she goes to her room, ignoring the way Charlie mumbled her name at her departure. She didn't have time for Charlie's bullshit.

She was still trying to shake her anger as she got dressed in a simple pair of faded blue jeans that she cuffed at the ends and a white tee. After sliding on her white vans, she sat at the edge of her bed willing her anger to simmer down, she still had fifteen minutes until Rosalie was set to arrive and didn't want the Blonde to catch on to her mood. Rose made it clear that she didn't like Charlie nor did she trust him, not that Bella could blame her, Bella didn't want to add to the list of reasons why.

Deciding that the less interaction the better, Bella went to her closet for a sweater so that she could wait out on the porch. Her fingers skimmed over her plethora of hoodies, but they stopped on the soft, slightly oversized white button-up cardigan that Rosalie had insisted she keep. She didn't think much of it as she slipped into Rose's sweater and almost as if she was compelled, she brought the collar up to her nose and breathed in the scent of Rosalie that lingered there.

The deep rose petal scent mixed with sugared cranberries and a hint of vanilla bean. The smell warmed her up more than the actual cardigan did, almost as if Rose was standing behind her, arms wound tightly around Bella, like she had done earlier. It soothed Bella's smoldering anger that still threatened to lash out and quieted the unkind tapes that played in Bella's mind. Bella never really understood that feeling of home being one's safe place or refuge, but she guessed that this was what everyone had always talked about because when she was surrounded by Rosalie she'd never felt safer or more cherished. It was a precious feeling that Bella craved.

Now smiling, Bella shifted over to the mirror to put her slightly damp hair up in a top-bun. When she was done she linger momentarily as she caught sight of the shine in her brown eyes. Before Rosalie her eyes had been dull, murky, Bella had thought them ugly. Now, looking in the mirror Bella saw someone who knows what happiness is; Rosalie looked good on her. Holding on to that feeling, Bella exited her room and descended the stairs quickly. She expected Charlie was in the living room, halfway through the bottle and so was thrown off kilter as she rounded the bottom landing and headed for the front door. Charlie was in the kitchen, cleaning?

Bella pauses mid-step, her head jerking back as she frowns at the scene. She searches Charlie's immediate surroundings to look for the bottle, but nothing. Charlie had the radio on low, cleaning the kitchen and humming softly to himself. Who was this man because surely it wasn't Charlie Swan. Charlie must have felt her eyes burning into the back of his head, because he turned and didn't look surprised by seeing Bella frozen halfway to the door.

Charlie took a deep breath, his shoulders straightened out and he smiled in a soft way that hurt Bella's heart. "Have a good time, Bells."

Bella staggered back as though he had physically slapped her in the face. There was a time, back when Bella was ten and had spent a week with Charlie because Renee had gone on a cruise. It was the one and only time that Bella had seen her father sober for more than a day. Charlie had entered a recovery program that summer and was a month into it when Renee randomly dropped Bella on his doorstep as she made her way to Alaska for the cruise. It was a week Bella had desperately tried to bury because it was perhaps the best week of her life. Charlie had been kind and attentive, he took her fishing and hiking in the woods. He even got her a birthday cake so that they could celebrate her birthday early, by more than a month, and they spent the whole night eating a huge tub of ice cream as they watched Disney movie after Disney movie.

He had called her 'Bells' the entire time, something her late grandfather had only called her. He had been a father, until the last night. Charlie had gotten a phone call from Renee, she remembered that because he had slammed the phone down and cursed Renee's name. Then Charlie started to become a strange mix of mad and sad before ordering Bella up to her room. He'd drank the night away as Bella laid terrified under the blankets, listening to him fighting with himself downstairs. He hadn't been able to look at her the next morning, and Bella had been too scared to speak to him. He didn't say goodbye when Renee returned for her.

Charlie looked at her with tired, defeated eyes and nodded to whatever he'd been thinking in his head. "I'll leave a light on for you."

Bella didn't know what to do, her throat was so tight that she didn't dare speak so she gave a nod and forced her legs to carry her to and out the door. She immediately plopped down on the first step, enjoying the slight fog that had surrounded the town. The air was cool at the back of her neck and it felt good in her lungs as she took intentionally deep breaths. Bella felt untethered like gravity had let go of her and abandoned her to space. She didn't understand what was going on in her little world, and couldn't comprehend the changes laid out before her.

Bella heard the purr of the engine first, then watched as Rose pulled into the drive next to Charlie's cruiser. When the blonde stepped out of her car, Bella pictures the white knight appearing from the smoke on his faithful steed, but it doesn't quite match. When Rosalie narrows her eyes and starts marching toward Bella, Bella figures out why the pictures don't match. Rose isn't a white knight full of gallantry, she is not the type to sacrifice who and what she loved for the greater good. Rosalie was the villain of the story, the one willing to burn down the world to save who she loved and not give two fucks about it.

Rose said nothing as she reached her hand out to Bella, Bella took it and allowed Rose to pull her to her feet. Golden eyes captured Bella's gaze for a few long minutes until the fire behind them softened and she reached her hand out to cup the side of Bella's neck, her thumb stretching out along Bella's jaw.

"Hello, Beautiful."

Bella closes her eyes as Rose connects their foreheads, a fresh wave of Rosalie's scent washing over her and tethering Bella back to earth. A small piece of Bella's heart broke and sewed itself back together all at once as the realization hit her for the very first time.

Oh, Bella thought.

--‐‐--

Bella was silent on the drive, Rose let her sit in the passenger seat not bothered by it as she waited for Bella to break the stillness. When Rose turned off the highway onto a densely wooded private road, Bella finally spoke.

"Thanks for being on time."

One of Rose's perfectly sculpted eyebrows rose and a small half smile peaked at the corner of her lips as if she was infinitely amused. "Vampires are always on time, Bella."

Bella smiled and rolled her eyes as she turned her head to look at Rosalie. "I'll add that to the growing list then: superhuman hearing, check, superhuman smell, check, perpetually punctual, check."

Rosalie laughed, "Nice alliteration."

Bella mockingly stuck out her tongue. "What else?"

Rosalie tapped the steering wheel and took a glance at the sun that stubbornly hung above the horizon. Bella watched her wondering what she was seeing. "I suppose we can keep the family waiting just a bit longer."

Bella wondered what she was speaking of until Rose pulled the car over and disappeared in a flash. Bella blinked and suddenly her car door was being opened by a cheeky Rosalie. Bella grinned as she took the offered hand and gasped when Rosalie shut the door behind her and stepped into Bella's personal space.

"Trust me?" Rosalie whispered and brought her silver flip phone up to her ear. Bella nodded deftly making rose give her the slightly evil smile that always made Bella go weak in the knees. "Emmett…tell Alice to stop snooping, we'll be there when we get there…now, Emmett! Okay, just take my car home…no we won't need it…oh my god, this is me hanging up."

Bella contained her giggles until she heard the snap of the phone closing. Rosalie sighed as she hugged herself to Bella's body and rested her head in the crook of Bella's neck. "You think it's funny now but just wait until you're the target of their inquisition."

Bella giggled again but didn't confirm the slight fear she felt at the thought. Instead she asked, "Where are you taking me, Rose?"

Rosalie stepped back with a secret sort of look on her face, and smirked. "Oh mortal, tell me your wishes and I, of pure Goddess intent, shall see it through."

Bella blushed. "Rose." She mumbled with a slight blush. Rosalie chuckled and clicked her tongue before reaching down and scooping Bella off her feet bridal style. "Rose!" Bella half screamed as she hurriedly wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck.

"Still trust me?" Rosalie challenged.

Bella buried her face just a bit deeper into Rosalie's neck and held on tighter. "Always." Just like that, they disappeared off the lonely road and into the forest.