I hope you enjoy this chapter! I am still working on the next one and I hope you are ready for what I have planned! :)

Chapter 44: A New World and Bad Lies

Faye POV

We made our way toward the non-fiction section, searching for fun fact books. Rose kept a firm hold on my hand, most likely ensuring I didn't run off again. I pouted slightly but didn't argue—I knew why. Still, I couldn't help but let out an internal huff.

I just get excited, that's all.

Ivy snorted. Nooo, I couldn't tell.

I ignored her as we reached the section we were looking for. The shelves were filled with brightly colored books, their titles practically begging for attention: Weird but True, The Big Book of Random Facts and Useless Knowledge, Random Nature Facts. My eyes widened, and I bounced lightly on my heels.

Rose chuckled, amused by my enthusiasm, before gently guiding me closer. As soon as I spotted the Random Nature Facts book, I let go of her hand and grabbed it, eyes shining. I flipped eagerly through the pages before turning to her with an excited grin.

"Did you know that one bat can eat a thousand mosquitoes in an hour?"

Rose shook her head, smiling. "No, I had no idea, baby bear. What else does it say?"

I didn't notice the soft look on her face as I eagerly turned the pages, searching for another fact. "Oh! It says a snail can sleep for three years. Isn't that cool? I wonder if they hibernate or if they just like to sleep that long on purpose." Rose shook her head with a fond smile. "I have no idea, baby bear. How about if you find any facts you're curious about, we look them up on the computer?"

I nodded absentmindedly, still scanning the pages, soaking in all the fascinating facts. But just as I was getting lost in them, the book was gently pulled from my hands. I let out a small whine, already missing it, and looked up to find Rose watching me with amusement—though there was a trace of concern in her expression.

"We still need to find a second book for you and Ivy," she reminded me. Then, softer, "Are you okay, baby bear?"

I hesitated, my fingers moving to rub the back of my neck as I looked down. "Yeah… sorry. I'm okay. It's just been a while since I've had a new book. Back at the cabin, I only had three, and I read them so many times I practically memorized every page."

A gentle touch tilted my chin upward, guiding my gaze to hers. There was sadness in her expression, a quiet sorrow that made my chest tighten as I stared back at her slightly confused. "I'm sorry you were alone for so long, baby bear," she murmured.

Oh.

I shook my head, offering a small smile. "No, I wasn't alone for too long. After a while, Ivy appeared. Then Robyn. And now you and Emmett. I'm not alone anymore. This is more people who care about me than I ever had before, and that makes me happy."

Rose's golden eyes turned glossy with tears that would never fall. I hesitated for a moment before gently resting my hand against her cheek. "Are you okay, what's wrong?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she knelt down to my level and wrapped her arms around me—gentle, yet firm, like she was trying to make up for all the time I had been alone. I relaxed into her hug, nuzzling deeper into her shoulder as I returned the hug.

I'm happy we are together too, Faye.

Me too, Ives. Me too.

We stayed like that for a moment before Rose pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She gave me a small smile. "Why don't we pick your second book and try to find one Ivy might like? I'm guessing you want this one?"

She bent down, picking up the Random Nature Facts book from the floor—the one I had been flipping through earlier—before standing up again. I nodded eagerly. With over two hundred pages of fun facts, it would definitely last me a while. But when I turned back to the shelves to pick my second book, I suddenly felt stuck. I wanted to take them all home.

Rose must have noticed my struggle because she placed a hand on my shoulder, making me look up at her with a slight pout. She chuckled softly. "Why don't you pick the one you want most for now, and we can always come back for more later?"

As much as I would've loved to take them all now, I knew she was right. I let out a small sigh before scanning the shelves again. Then, excitement bubbled up inside me as I realized that once I picked my books, I could help Ivy find one she'd love too!

I quickly grabbed The Big Book of Random Facts and Useless Knowledge, a thick book with over five hundred pages of trivia and held it up to Rose with a beaming smile. She gave an approving nod before placing both books into the basket she held in one hand, then gently taking my hand with the other.

"Does Ivy have an idea of what kind of book she wants?" she asked as we started walking.

I nodded. "Yeah, she told me she wanted something with adventure, magic, and fantasy. She also said that if we can't find one like that she wouldn't mind a light hearted book either. I was trying to think of a good adventure fantasy book, and I just remembered a great choice that should be out in 2005! I think I know where it is—can we go check?"

I tugged lightly in the direction of the children section. Rose let out a soft chuckle before nodding, letting me guide her forward.

As we walked, I could feel Ivy's unease creeping in. Her emotions stirred in the back of my mind, a mix of confusion and anxiety.

What's wrong, Ives? I asked, concerned.

She hesitated before finally admitting, You found one? But… what if I'm not a book person? What if we never find the right book? What if—

I cut her off before she could spiral further. Ives, it's going to be okay! I thought of the perfect book for you, and if you don't like it, we'll find another one. And if it turns out books just aren't your thing, there are plenty of movies we can get for you instead. But we won't know until we try, right?

I felt her take a deep breath before steadying herself. Okay… I guess that's true. Thanks, Faye.

No problem, Ives! But I really think you're gonna love this one.

I felt her curiosity spark just as we arrived. The Children's section stretched out before us—perfect.

I scanned the shelves, searching for the one I had in mind. It had a very recognizable cover, so it shouldn't be too hard to spot. My eyes lit up when I finally found it, but it was on a shelf higher than I could reach.

For a split second, I considered climbing up to get it—but I pushed the thought away. Instead, I turned to Rose and pointed toward the book.

"Rose? Can you grab that book for me, please?"

She followed my gaze, immediately understanding which one I meant. Without hesitation, she reached up, plucked it from the shelf, and handed it to me.

"What is that one called, baby bear?"

I stared at her in shock. "What?! You've never heard of The Magic Tree House? It's one of the greatest kids' books of all time!"

Rose looked at me with amusement. "I wouldn't know. I never had a reason to come to the children's section until now."

I opened my mouth to question that—until it hit me. She means us.

"Oh," I mumbled, a mix of shock and embarrassment washing over me. But beneath that, there was something else—something warmer, something satisfied.

Because the thought of Rose or Emmett spending time with another kid—one that wasn't Ivy, Robyn, or me—made my chest tighten. My heart ached at the idea, my blood simmered with something that I wasn't quite sure of, and my grip on the book tightened.

"Little bear?"

Rose's confused voice pulled me out of my thoughts, making me blink up at her in a small daze. She studied me, concern flickering in her golden eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to brush off whatever strange feeling was clawing at my insides. "Yeah, I'm okay! Just got lost in thought."

She didn't look convinced, but after a moment, she nodded. I exhaled slowly, trying to make sense of the weight pressing against my ribs.

That was jealousy. Ivy spoke her voice was laced with amusement, and I froze.

Jealousy?

I had never been jealous before—why would I be jealous now?

Ivy shrugged. Not sure, but you were definitely jealous of some random imaginary kid stealing any of our bond's attention.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized she might be right. The idea of anyone else taking their attention away from us made my chest ache, like something important was being pulled out of reach. I took another steadying breath.

There is no kid. It's okay. There's no reason to get jealous. A matter of fact, I'm not jealous.

I forced my focus back to the book in my hands, only to realize my fingers had bent the pages slightly. Guilt pricked at me, and I carefully smoothed them out.

Did you still want to know what this book was about, Ives?

Ivy perked up immediately. Yes! Tell me everything!

I decided to talk out loud so Rose could hear what it was about too. "It's a book about these siblings named Jack and Annie, who find a magic treehouse filled with books. The treehouse has magical powers. It can transport them to different places and times by opening any book in the treehouse and making a wish to go there, I think. They have to find clues and complete their quests to go back home. This is the first book, so they are going to be transported to the prehistoric times. You can see the dinosaur on the front. See? It has magic, fantasy, and adventure, the perfect book for you!"

Hearing what the book was about, Ivy's excitement sparked, her interest clear as she practically buzzed with eagerness. Rose nodded in understanding that it seemed like a great book for Ivy, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"That sounds like the perfect book for her, baby bear."

I beamed at her, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah, I thought so too!"

Turning my question to Ivy, though still speaking aloud, I asked, "Did you want to switch and read a bit of this one? Or if you want you can explore a bit."

She hesitated for a moment before agreeing, and we shifted control. As soon as she took over, her fingers traced the cover with quiet reverence, awe radiating from her in waves.

"Little pup, are you okay?"

Ivy blinked up at Rose, slightly dazed, before snapping out of it and offering a small, excited smile. "Yeah, I'm great! I'm just happy that Faye found a book for me!"

Rose chuckled softly. "I'm glad too, little pup. I know you're going to love that one. Since we're here, do you want to look for a second book before we head to the cozy corner?"

Ivy hesitated, shifting on her feet and digging the toe of our shoe into the carpet. "Uh—I don't know… How do I even know what a book is about? Do I just look at the cover?"

Rose laughed gently and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "No, you don't have to judge a book by its cover. There's usually a description on the back that tells you what it's about. Why don't you take a look and see what if any of them catches your interest?"

With that, she turned Ivy around and gave her a gentle nudge forward. Ivy glanced back nervously, but Rose's warm smile eased her hesitation. "Don't worry, I'll be here the whole time." Taking a deep breath, she dropped to her knees and pulled a random book from the shelf.

And just like that, something clicked. Ivy began scanning through different books, her curiosity took over, replacing her nervousness with growing excitement. One book turned into two, then three and so on. Soon, she was fully engrossed, flipping looking at covers, reading descriptions, and getting more thrilled with each story she found. It was like a whole new world had opened up in front of her and to her, it most likely did.

I felt a swell of pride seeing how much Ivy enjoyed looking through all the different books, her excitement growing with each one she picked up. See? I told you there was a book for you, I teased lightly.

Ivy huffed but didn't argue. She wouldn't admit I was right, but she didn't deny it either. Instead, she lifted the latest book she'd grabbed, showing me the cover.

This one looks cool. It's called "The Berenstain Bears Get in a Fight." She flipped it over, scanning the back. It's about the siblings fighting all day, and their mama bear tries to help them.

I grinned. I used to love the Berenstain Bears books! Are you thinking about getting that one?

She seemed to consider it, then shook her head. No, I don't think so. It's kind of short.

Before I could say anything else, something caught her eye. She dropped the book she was holding without a second thought and grabbed another one, drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

"Woah…" she whispered aloud, staring at the cover.

I tried not to say anything, letting her have her moment. I had a feeling she was going to love it, but I didn't want to say anything that might sway her opinion.

Rose leaned over, glancing at the book that grabbed Ivy's attention. "Captain Underpants? That looks interesting, little pup. Do you want to read the first few pages to see if you like it?"

Ivy hesitated, chewing the inside of her cheek. Then, with quiet determination, she nodded and flipped it open. Her eyes darted across the pages, her expression shifting with every sentence—curious, amused, delighted. By the third page, she snapped the book shut, beaming.

"I like it! I want this one and The Magic Tree House! Please!"

Rose chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Ivy's hair. "Great choice, little pup. If it turns out you like it we can come back and get you another one, okay?" Ivy beamed, nodding eagerly. "How about I put these into the basket while we head over to the cozy corner?"

Ivy hesitated, reluctant to let go of her new books, but after a moment, she nodded and carefully handed them over. She put the other books back in their proper places before grabbing Rose's hand as we walked toward the cozy corner.

She was chatting animatedly, excitedly telling Rose about all the books she looked at. And Rose—despite already knowing—listened with interest, responding in a way that made Ivy practically glow with joy.

It was nice. It felt warm, comfortable.

Until a loud, high-pitched screech split the air.

The sudden noise made Ivy jolt, instinctively pushing me forward. The motion forced me to take control. I barely had time to react before my body stumbled, instinctively pressing close to Rose's side, partially hiding behind her leg.

Sorry about that Faye! It was a knee jerk reaction, I swear!

It's okay, Ives. I understand! It's fine.

"Little pup?" Rose's voice was gentle but concerned.

I peeked up at her, and her expression softened further. "Oh, little bear. What happened? Are you two okay?"

I nodded slightly, rubbing at my ears, which still rang faintly. "Yeah, we're okay. Ivy got startled and accidentally pushed me in control. That loud noise scared us a little. My ears are ringing. I guess I got too used to living in the silent forest."

She reached out, running a soothing hand over the back of my head, her fingers gentle in my hair. I sighed softly, the tension easing from my shoulders. For a moment, everything felt right—safe.

Then something small crashed into Rose's opposite leg.

I flinched at the sound of the sudden impact, peeking around her just in time to see a little girl, maybe around six years old, stumble backward and land on the floor. Her lower lip trembled, eyes glistening with the threat of tears.

Rose reacted instantly, crouching down, her face soft with concern.

"Hey, you okay?" she asked gently. "Where's your mommy or daddy?"

The little girl sniffled, looking up at her with watery eyes before giving a small shrug.

And suddenly, something inside my chest twisted.

At first, it was just a faint, uncomfortable pull. I wasn't sure what was causing it. But as Rose reached out, carefully brushing dust from the girl's sweater after standing her up, the feeling sharpened—like invisible claws digging into my ribs.

I didn't understand. Why did I feel like this?

The girl was upset. Rose was just being nice and helpful. That's all.

I knew that.

But something about the way Rose knelt there, her golden eyes filled with warmth, made my stomach clench.

It was different from how she looked at me—wasn't it?

…No, it wasn't.

It wasn't different enough.

I think that was the problem.

Ivy's voice hummed in the back of my mind, amused.

Oh, Faye.

I stiffened.

What?

You're jealous again.

No, I'm not.

Mhm. Sure. Her tone was teasing, but there was something knowing beneath it. You don't like seeing her give attention to another kid that's not us. That's jealousy, Faye.

I swallowed, shifting on my feet. That couldn't be right. I am not jealous. That was ridiculous.

Ivy hummed like she didn't believe me.

I just have to stop feeling that way.

That's it.

Yeah!

So, I tried to push the feeling away, to remind myself there was nothing to be upset over, but my hands curled into the fabric of my overalls. The uneasy tightness in my chest didn't fade.

I watched as Rose spoke to the little girl, her voice soft and reassuring—the same way it always was with me. I saw the way the girl giggled, a small, hiccupy sound, as Rose murmured something lighthearted. It should have been comforting.

Seeing the girl feel better.

And for some reason, that made it worse.

She shouldn't be taking care of her. She should be focusing on me.

She's not her parent.

She's my m—

The thought slammed into me so fast, my breath caught in my throat. I snapped out of it, my heart pounding.

Wait…

What?

What was I about to say?

My what?

I didn't know.

I forced myself to shake it off, but the feeling lingered, heavy and unanswered, settling deep in my chest like something I wasn't ready to face.

Luckily for me, an older woman came rushing over, calling out for an Elizabeth. The little girl's head snapped up at the name, and in an instant, the woman was there, dropping to her knees and pulling her into a tight hug.

"Oh, thank goodness," the woman breathed, her voice thick with relief. She turned to Rose, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much for finding her."

Rose simply smiled, shaking her head. "It's no trouble at all. I'm just glad she's safe."

The woman murmured another round of thanks before scooping the little girl into her arms and hurrying off with the little girl waving goodbye, their figures disappearing into the rows of bookshelves.

And just like that, they were gone.

Rose dusted off her hands, unaware of the storm still raging in my chest. She had no idea how tightly I was gripping my overalls, how my thoughts churned with questions I didn't want to ask.

I forced myself to breathe, to push it all down.

It didn't matter. The moment had passed.

So why did it still hurt?

She turned back to me, her expression softening instantly. "Little bear? Is something wrong?"

I hesitated, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Everything's okay. I'm fine!" I lied. I could tell she could see through it. I sucked at lying. I don't know why I even tried.

The truth was, I wanted nothing more than for her to pull me close, to pick me up. I could still smell the faint trace of the little girl's scent on her arms from helping her up earlier. But I didn't want to be a burden. I could handle this. I could—

Faye…

It's okay, Ives. I'm fine…

I know you want her to hold us… Why not just ask her to carry us to the cozy corner? I'm sure you'll feel better once you're close to her.

But… she'll be holding the books and me. I don't want to bother her… What if she gets tired?

Faye… you're forgetting something. She's a vampire. She could lift a car without breaking a sweat. Literally.

I paused, that reminder sinking in. Of course she could. But still, I hesitated, torn between wanting her close and not wanting to ask for too much. Before I could second-guess myself again, Ivy gave me one final nudge.

If you're too nervous to ask, why not just raise your arms like last time and see what happens?

Okay…I'll try…

I looked up, meeting Rosalie's golden eyes. She was still watching me, her concern clear. My heart fluttered nervously, and I took a deep breath. Then, I reached my arms up, my eyes closing tightly against the anxious knot in my stomach. I waited, and for a moment, nothing happened.

Then, I felt it—soft, familiar. The familiar lavender scent filled my senses, and before I could react, I was effortlessly lifted into Rosalie's arms. The tension in my body melted away, and I relaxed into her hold, breathing in her calming scent and the sensation of her body against mine.

"All good now, sweetheart?" Rose asked softly. I nodded against her neck as Ivy let out a soft purr in my head. "Yeah, all good."

Rosalie chuckled softly. "You're not a very good liar, little bear."

I tensed for a moment, my breath catching—but before I could spiral, I felt her fingers gently combing through my hair, her body swaying side to side in a slow, comforting rhythm making me. It surprised me how effortlessly she could soothe me, how quickly she made the panic go away.

"We don't have to talk about what's bothering you," she murmured. "But I want you to know that you never have to be afraid to ask me or Emmett to pick you or your sisters up, okay? We always want to hold you."

Embarrassment flushed through me, but I nodded into her shoulder. "Okay…"

"Let's go sit down at the cozy corner." She went to grab the basket she had placed down earlier, and I hesitated. The thought of her putting me down gnawed at me, but before I could voice my fear, I tightened my grip on her shirt, silently hoping she'd understand.

She kissed the side of my head, her voice a soothing whisper. "Don't worry, little bear. We can go sit together in one of the beanbags, and you can read on my lap while we wait for the others, how does that sound?"

I liked that idea. I nodded, content, as she began walking toward the corner with me nestled in her arms.

I knew I would have to face my thoughts eventually but for now I was content being in her arms. I couldn't help but think:

I wonder what Robyn and Emmett are up to.