twilight books we deserved
rosalie’s epilogue (main story posted here)
rosalie stalked through the forest, prepared to hunt. she had gone separately from the rest of her… family. she often did. over the past two years, she had grown to like them, to feel accepted by them, but it was still weird to her to think of them as her family. she didn’t feel that close them yet. they were kind to her, had welcomed her, had comforted her as she worked through all that had plagued her since she had woken up. but it wasn’t enough. she hadn’t joined them by choice. and she wouldn’t open up that much until she was ready to.
soon after she returned to them, they had relocated to a small town in tennessee. carlisle had explained the change as necessary; rosalie couldn’t be seen by anyone that had known her. rosalie had pretended the change bothered her, but in truth she was relieved. she hoped the change of scenery would help her adapt to this new life better. it had partially worked, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. she buried herself in new hobbies: engineering, electronics, mechanic work, all things she had, as a girl, been forbidden from attempting. but she still couldn’t fill the missing piece.
she darted further still into the woods, between the trees. she was pretty far out now; nowhere near any hiking trails. she wasn’t in any part of the forest any sane person would venture to. it was safe to hunt.
but before she could start, before she could switch off the rational part of her brain and give herself over to the animalistic part of her, she heard it. the roar of a bear, and a human screaming. she stopped breathing; worried the smell of the blood would come next. she didn’t want to break, to make carlisle disappointed in her. but she couldn’t stand here and do nothing, leave this human to die. so she ran in the direction of the sounds. she reached the small clearing shortly, seeing a large brown bear hovering over a large man. he was lying on the ground, bleeding from claw marks on his torso and one of his legs. it looked like he had hit his head when he fell; a small cut had blood running down his face.
she stopped when she saw that face, glad she had held her breath, knowing she wouldn’t have been able to resist giving into her instincts. the more she looked at him, the more she found herself unable to look away. he had such a kind face, clearly visible even through his injuries. despite the pain that twisted his features, she could see that he had dimples. as she examined him from behind the tree, the bear raised its paw for one more strike. rosalie couldn’t let the bear hurt the man further. she leaped forward, prepared to strike. she fought the creature quickly, snapping its neck between her arms so it wouldn’t suffer. she knew she didn’t have much time; all she could think of was the man she was trying to save getting closer to unconsciousness.
she gingerly picked him up, his eyes snapping open at the coldness of her arms. his eyes stared into hers, like he was seeing so much more than just her face. rosalie gave him a small smile, hoping to reassure him before she ran off, back to the house. he laughed one, delirious from the pain in his body. he didn’t look away from her face the whole way back.
carlisle ran out of the house and met her a few miles from the house, having smelt the blood.
“carlisle, i need your help,” rosalie said, far too fast for the man to understand. “please save him,” she pleaded, not wanting to waste time trying to beg him.
“rosalie, are you sure?” carlisle asked, searching her facial expressions for any hint of doubt, or possibly a reason why. truth be told, rosalie didn’t have an actual reason. she just couldn’t let this man die.
“please,” she said one last time.
“please,” the man echoed, his voice barely over a whisper. both vampires turned to stare at him, shocked that he had been able to speak. but they waited a second too long. rosalie watched as the man’s eyes slid shut, felt his heart slow, before it stopped.
“carlisle!” rosalie shrieked, running into the house to put the man’s body on their dining room table. “please!” carlisle was right behind her, before he leaped into action. he quickly bit the man’s neck. rosalie watched in worry, terrified that she had been too late. as the venom reached the man’s system, his body jolted, and he screamed as the pain hit him. rosalie breathed a small sigh of relief as she heard his heart start again, beating faster than it ever had before.
carlisle darted out of the room and then back in, carrying a small syringe full of clear liquid. he shot it into the man’s arm.
“what did you just do?” rosalie asked in worry.
“morphine. it might help the pain,” carlisle said. “we can hope,” he added, looking at the man. his face was still twisted in pain, but he didn’t make a sound. “rosalie, do you want to le-”
“no,” rosalie said, cutting him off. “i’m staying right here. you can leave if you want to. but i’m staying right here. he won’t go through this alone,” she said, grabbing a chair and placing in by the table he was laying on, taking a seat and reaching out a hand to rest on the table beside his. almost without thinking, he took it, occasionally squeezing to release the tension.
they sat like that for three days, both barely moving. carlisle would occasionally come in to check on the progress, but he never stayed long. neither made a sound the whole time. the man didn’t scream again, and rosalie was afraid to speak, not knowing what to say. had she really doomed another to this life? what was she going to say to him when he woke up?
he woke jut before sunrise on the fourth day. he went completely still, dropping rosalie’s hand before closing his eyes. he took a few deep breaths, as if readying himself for a difficult task. rosalie stood, tensed, prepared to call for esme or carlisle if she needed help. she had asked they stay away but nearby when he woke; she wanted to do this alone. this had been her choice. now he would make his.
“what happened to me?” the man asked, slowly opening his eyes and sitting up. rosalie took a deep breath, and began to explain to him what had happened. the bear attack, how she had heard it and came to investigate, how she knew she had to save him. how she ran him back here, begging her friend to save his life, not sure if he would be able to. she told him what he was now: a vampire, and he could stay with them and survive off of animals, or go off on his own if he chose to. rosalie waited after she finished, both of them sitting in silence, as the man absorbed what she told him, her waiting for his reaction.
“so, this is how i’m going to be now?” he asked slowly, testing out the words on his tongue.
“yes,” rosalie said, looking down.
“thank you for saving me,” he said, jumping off the table and reaching to give rosalie a grateful hug. she leaped back, jumping to the other side of the room before he could touch her. “i’m sorry,” he said, putting his hands down at once. “i should have asked. thank you, again, seriously. i’m not sure how this new life will work out, but i’m grateful to still be alive, at least in some way. and it’s all because of you. so thanks,” he said, awkwardly trailing off into silence.
“it’s okay,” rosalie said, stepping forward, slowing making her way to stand next to him. “and you’re welcome. you’re really not upset?” she asked, not believing his carefree attitude, or how it was rubbing off a little onto her.
“can’t change what’s already happened,” he said with a shrug. “might as well enjoy it,” he said, laughing. rosalie laughed along with him.
“i’m rosalie, by the way. carlisle is another member of this family, and esme is his wife. they’re waiting around to meet you,” she said, motioning towards the other room where they were waiting.
“i think i’m fine with my guardian angel for a little longer,” he said, not looking away from her, and cracking a small smile. “and i’m emmett,” he said, reaching out a hand to shake. this time, rosalie took it, not wanting to shy away from his touch anymore.
