3. Setting the Stage

EPOV

"Where've you been?" Alice asked as soon as she spotted me.

"Don't you already know?" I questioned, wondering if she'd seen any visions of me with Bella.

"No," she growled crossly. "I've been too busy to 'look' for you." I nodded.

"I've been back for hours," I bragged. "I got tired of waiting around for the rest of you. What took you so long?"

All four of them smirked at me condescendingly.

"You wouldn't understand, but I can assure you we weren't playing chess," Emmett sneered playfully. "Rose was last, so she pays the forfeit."

"Only because Jasper cheated!" she shrieked indignantly. "Fine, name your forfeit, Eddie." She was trying to provoke me by using the nickname I hated, but I chose to ignore it. I had bigger fish to fry.

"Hmmm," I hummed, pretending to think. I already knew exactly what I wanted. I allowed an evil grin to cross my face. "I know! I'm going to invite a human to join us at lunch tomorrow, and you have to be nice to her the whole time."

My whole family gasped in shock.

"What?" Rose screamed. "A human girl?" No freakin' way.

"You've got to be kidding me," Emmett complained. "Why should the rest of us have to suffer for her forfeit?"

"I can't believe it. You're absolutely serious about this, completely determined," Jasper added. Have you lost your mind?

"Do we have to eat human food?" Alice asked in disgust. Four minds screamed at me in protest.

"Son, do you think that's a good idea?" Carlisle inquired hesitantly, his glance flickering momentarily to Jasper.

"I'm confident Jasper can handle it. If I can, so can he," I responded firmly.

Wow, I've never felt this kind of trust from him before. Did his experience yesterday help him understand me better? Thanks, Edward!

"I'll be fine," Jasper stated confidently. Alice quickly searched the future.

"Yes, it'll be fine. She eats lunch, but none of us do. It doesn't seem to bother her. Nobody talks much. I don't recognize her. Must be Chief Swan's daughter, the new girl," Alice announced.

Oh, well. It's only half an hour. I can scare her off afterward. "Fine, I'll be nice to her during lunch,"

Rosalie sighed, resigned. "But she'll probably be too nervous to eat."

"This could be fun!" Emmett plotted, rubbing his hands together. I didn't even bother telling him to be nice. According to the Twilight series, Bella loved Emmett and took his teasing in stride as long as it was nonsexual, and she'd get her own back once she was a newborn.

"Rosalie, I wondered if you would go for a walk with me," I offered hopefully.

Why me?

"I wanted to speak with you privately for a few minutes."

Okay. She nodded. We headed into the forest, far enough so we wouldn't be overheard, before she turned to me expectantly. Well?

"I was thinking back to when you were changed."

Oh, no. She turned away from me. What about it?

"I realized how I must have sounded to you. I was feeling selfish. I was used to having Carlisle and

Esme all to myself, and I knew we would all have to help take care of you as a newborn. I guess I felt similar to the way most older children feel when their parents have another child. I was jealous that Carlisle chose to change someone else. I felt like our family was complete with just the three of us. I resented that we had to move to hide your existence. Plus, you were so beautiful as a human girl."

You thought I was beautiful?

"Of course I did. I'm not blind, you know!"

She turned back to look me in the eye, judging my sincerity.

"As a vampire, you became the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I knew you would always be noticed no matter where we went. Your overwhelming beauty would command attention, when our whole existence required blending in, avoiding notice. I was afraid you would expose us without even trying, because men would watch you wherever we went."

She smiled at me. I can understand your point of view.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you with my negativity and apparent rejection."

She was surprised I understood how she felt.

"Please forgive me, Rose. I love you, and I'm really glad you're my sister. This family is much better for having you and Emmett in it."

Wow, thanks, Edward. I didn't have any idea you felt that way. "I forgive you, Edward." But why didn't you even consider me as a possible mate?

"Ahh, Rose. If I were a human man, of course I would have, but I was and am a vampire. Vampires have soul mates, and they usually recognize them almost instantly. Reading Carlisle's and Esme's thoughts, I had a good idea of what that would feel like. I didn't feel that pull toward you, so I knew you weren't the one destined for me. I knew you would never be more than a sister in my eyes. Having experienced the love Carlisle and Esme shared, I refused to settle for anything else. You share that same love with Emmett. Having experienced that love, can you really imagine yourself in a relationship with someone else?"

No, I can't. It wouldn't be worth it.

"So, it was nothing personal, Rose. I could quickly tell we weren't meant to be a couple. You were destined for Emmett, not for me."

She nodded in understanding. Thank you, Edward. That's always bothered me all these years, but now I know the truth and it sets me free. She smiled.

"You're a wonderful sister though."

She grinned. Now I know you're flattering me. Don't worry, I'm not mad about the human. And I forgive you for being a selfish prick all those years ago. She giggled and took off for the house. Ipretended to give chase, but I was pondering the change in Rosalie. Just that one conversation seemedto have lifted a weight off her shoulders and removed a shadow from her eyes. I shuddered to thinkhow much I had unknowingly hurt her all those years ago with just a few careless words.

When I came inside, Carlisle and Esme were sitting side by side on the couch reading. I walked over to Esme and pulled her up into my embrace, hugging her tightly. Carlisle's eyes widened in surprise.

"I just wanted to tell you how blessed I've been to have you as a mother all these years. I don't know how you continually put up with us, but I'm very thankful you do. You're the reason we are a family and not just a coven. You're the glue that holds us together. Without you, our family would fall apart. You make each house into a home for us and you're always there for us when we need you. Thanks, Mom, for everything."

Esme squeezed me tighter and I kissed the top of her head. Voices chorused from the second story.

"Yeah, you're awesome, Mom!"

"The greatest!"

"The best ever!"

"Thanks, Mom. We love you."

Esme's thoughts were jumbled and chaotic. She was actually sobbing, but I knew she was just overwhelmed with happy emotions. Carlisle stood up and took her into his embrace. What brought this on, son?

"I've just been thinking a lot about my family, and I realized some things about myself as well. I wanted to give credit where credit was due. Thank you for saving me all those years ago and for adopting me as your son. I wouldn't want this existence without your love and guidance. Without you as my father, I would truly be a monster. However, you are my daily inspiration to be something more. Thank you, Dad."

Now Carlisle was the one choked up with emotion. The voices sounded out again.

"We love you too, Dad."

"You're an inspiration to us all."

"Thanks for teaching me a better way to live."

"Thanks for saving me, Dad."

Carlisle sank down onto the sofa, cradling Esme in his arms. They clung to one another.

"Thank you, children. We love you all," they replied in unison, smiling into each other's eyes. I went upstairs to kill some time until I could return to my Bella.

Please Comment or Vote!!

<3 ReadingTillEternity