Chapter 40 – Learning The Truth
Rosalie's POV
I have no words to describe how amazing life is now that Amber and I are finally a couple.
The dream that I've always had of finding my true love and the fairy-tale happily ever after is well on its way to finally coming true.
That dream maybe coming to an end with the upcoming reveal. Just thinking about all the different ways that this conversation could go wrong has had me in a spiral of what if thoughts and scenarios.
The whole family has ideas about how to ease Amber into the vampire secret. Carlisle and Esme's hearts are in the right place, but their plan of easing Amber into it slowly would be a bad approach. Bella and Alice want to leave hints until Amber figures it out for herself. Similarly how Bella found out about the vampire world.
I have to agree with my brother's perspective that Amber is too clueless for that and may never figure it out or would never actually question the abnormalities that she had noticed.
Hiding our secret has become second make for us, but there have been times that things have slipped in front of Amber, yet she's remained in different.
My brother's and I want to go with the direct and simple way.
Sitting down and getting straight to the point.
That is the plan that would work the best and the quickest. That is also the scariest plan to follow through with.
The only thing that I can do is have faith in Amber and in the future that we are creating together.
Carlisle's POV
The tension in the house has been unbelievably high since the decision and plan had been set in motion to finally tell Amber about vampires.
I say plan, but there isn't much of a plan. It's more of an outline, because sitting Amber down and going straight to the point is more of an action approach.
The days seemed to have count down until the fateful day was upon us.
The whole morning and afternoon has been stressful. The whole family is anxiously waiting to find out how 'the vampire' talk is going.
It's been close to four hours, but that isn't an indicator of how well or how badly their conversation is going.
We all freeze when Alice goes into the tale tell signs of a vision. We all seem to hold our non existent breathe as we await the news that will forever change our family.
It seems to take longer than normal for Alice's vision to play out, although it could just be that we are all too frazzled and on edge. When Alice's vision is finally over we're relieved and confused when Alice says "Rosalie has stopped taking".
Unsure if that is a good thing or a bad thing I try and clarify by asking "Are they done? Should be head back?"
"All I can see is Rosalie. We should head back." Alice tells us with worry in her voice and a bit of urgency in her voice.
It only takes us a few minutes to cover the 70 or so miles that we had been.
When we finally make it to the back yard we all freeze as we are unsure if we should go inside the house or not.
As a family we all move as one as it was almost unanimous that we should check on Rosalie and Amber.
As we make our way into the living room we all freeze. My heart breaks at the sight before me. My eldest daughter is standing by the large window with her arms wrapped around her with a blank look on her face.
In an instant my love has Rose wrapped in her motherly arms.
The rest of us are still frozen in place, unsure about how we should proceed.
Jasper the ever protector of the family says "Amber is gone. She must not have taken the talk as well as we all had hoped. We must deal with this situation, before it becomes a threat to the family."
After a few moments Rose pulls away from Esme as she tries to explain "The talk went as well as it could have. She was shocked at first and it took some convincing on my part. Demonstrating our supernatural abilities such as our strength and speed. We talked for a long time after the shock wore off and she asked a lot of questions. Ranging from garlic and coffins to what I've seen throughout history."
"If the talk went well why did Amber leave?" Bella hesitantly asked.
"A family got lost while they were out in the forest and Amber and a few others got called into work to help with the search. She didn't want to leave, but we both decided that some time and distance for her to digest what we talked about would be a good idea." Rosalie explained.
"At least Amb seems to have taken it well" Emmett said ever the hopeful optimist.
Amber's POV
My girlfriend is a Vampire...vampire?! Vampires are real. Does that mean that witches or hell even zombies are out there? My body gives a tiny involuntary shudder at the thought.
I have another headache forming from over thinking. I rub my temples for the umpteenth time tonight. Can your brain hurt from information overload? Because at this point I'm pretty sure it's a thing.
Thankfully we were able to find the lost family without any major incidents.
After our debriefing and some food my head still seemed to be spinning. And almost a day and a half later laying in bed it still doesn't seem like it is going to stop anytime soon.
Logically I know that this changes, we'll everything but my heart keeps telling me that it doesn't matter. Rosalie is still Rosalie and the love of my life.
Her family is still the same loving family that embraced me all those months ago.
Her brothers have become my brothers and her sisters have become my sisters.
Although her parents haven't really fit into 'my parents' role not that I don't love them or that they haven't made me feel like they've welcomed me into their family, but it just never feels right to me. On some level I think they feel it to. Though I guess your in-laws are supposed to feel like that, like they're your parents but not quite.
...In-laws? That thought kind of came out of left field. Not that I haven't had those thoughts of marriage and the whole nine with Rosalie before, but do I still want that? With a rush of clarity I realize that yes I do. That's when my head clears and I'm finally able to grasp what my heart has been trying to lead me to.
This whole thing doesn't matter. Is it a big deal? You better believe it. I mean vampirism is pretty serious, but does that change how and what I feel for Rosalie or everyone else for that matter? Hell no!
I'm leaping out of bed with that epiphany and rushing to get dressed as I grab my bag and keys.
I made it to the Cullen's house in record time.
I slam my door shut as I scramble up the stairs and knock on the door.
My antsyness makes the short time before the door opens feel like an eternity.
When it finally does I'm a little apprehensive.
There standing before me is Emmett, but obviously not Emmett.
My best friend Emmett is always so happy go lucky and quick to wrap me up in a huge bear hug. This Emmett is far too serious and I get the feeling that he's sad. That thought immediately has me on edge and my protective instincts go into overdrive and panic thinking something happened. Looking at Em's face a few seconds longer I realize that it's not exactly saddened it's more of a scared apprehension.
With a feeling of being shot straight through the heart as it dawns on me that he's scared of me. That this stand off that we have going on in the doorway is because he's unsure of where we stand now. Where I froze because I picked up on his hesitantance while he's afraid of frightening me or unsure if I would even want to hug him.
I don't rely on words. I just throw myself at him in our usual bear hug way.
We both could feel the tension ease not only from each other, but the rest of the house as well.
With our simple yet exuberant hug it was like a switch and everything went back to normal. Complete with a pixie flying onto my back as she usually does when she wants to glomp hug me.
Rosalie's POV
When I return to the house after my hunt, I take a few moments to compose myself at the tree line before I make my way inside.
I know that Amber just needs time, but that doesn't change the fact that all of the doubts and worries have tried to take over.
I know in my heart that Amber loves me and that she is my mate, but my brain still wants proof. Sadly mates aren't fool proof. Of course there's signs and such, but those take time. That's why the vampire courting process isn't a fast process when it comes to a potential human mate.
It's easier when both are vampires. It's pretty instantaneous, but when one is a human things become less clear. That's why I have made sure to hit every milestone with Amber.
Again logically I know that we are mates, but that doesn't make taking these last steps any easier.
After the vampire reveal the only thing left is to share is my past and the events of my turning with Amber. That will be the finally piece for me.
I know that it sounds stupid to think that the events and trauma of my turning would be what I would save for last, but I can't help but put off sharing such painful parts of myself.
I need to know that Amber is my one and only before I feel like I can share such a well hidden piece of myself.
Amber and I love each other and thankfully we both are on the right path and everything proves that we are truly destined to be together.
With my trust issues and past you can't exactly expect me to rush right into this with both eyes shut. Thankfully Amber is the same way.
I keep reminding myself that this is just another test, one I know that will again prove that we are meant to be.
With that last thought filling my heart with hope I make my way inside.
My unneeded breath catches in my throat as I see Emmett, Jasper, Amber, and Edward all playing 'Call Of Duty' like nothing has changed.
As the tears make their way into my eyes I realize things truly still are the same.