The Secret Beneath the Roses: Chapter One: The Rose is Planted

Alice had the ability to see the future. It was a nifty little gift that came in helpful once she figured out how to control it. All she had to do was concentrate on a specific person and she could see their future course of actions, what they would say, how they would react or if they were going to change their mind. It also worked on predicting other things like the stock market, ensuring Alice and her adoptive vampire family could live in comfort.

Of course it wasn't completely controllable and sometimes she would get random visions without even thinking about a person. These visions were sudden and would leave her frozen until they passed. Usually when she got visions like these it was because something drastic was going to happen, due to a person making a rash emotion wrought decision. Then she would rush into action and try to stop it from coming true. Most of the time she was able to prevent it from happening, if not at least lessen the effects of it. But one time she got a vision that completely left her baffled as to the course of action she should take.

It was a warm but cloudy Sunday afternoon and Alice was curled around her sketchbook in the living room, her dainty body laid against the white couch cushions. She was sketching a portrait of Rosalie, the blonde sitting on the chair in front of her, her body in a languid relaxed position. She was wearing a casual outfit, causal for Rosalie meaning a skin tight red dress that had a plunging neckline. Her hair was done up, a few strands hanging around her face, framing it nicely.

Edward was in the front room, playing away on his piano some melancholy piece that he had composed for Bella. Jasper was sitting in the window seat of the room, reading a book on the civil war and Emmett was downstairs in the basement, loud explosions and expletives drifting up ever so often. Their parents, Carlisle and Esme were away on business, leaving the kids free reign of the house.

Alice felt comfortable in the silence, contently sketching away. Usually she was all for having noise and people moving around and doing something but today she just wanted to enjoy the sound of wind chimes coming in through the open window, and the warm spring breeze that fluttered across her face.

"Daydreaming?" Rosalie asked softly, startling Alice out of her thoughts of having a hike through the woods at night. She hadn't realized that her hand had stopped moving and she went back to drawing with super speed as she filled in Rosalie's perfect face in detail.

"Yea. The weather is so nice. It makes me what to have a picnic like humans do." Alice commented her eyes drifting up and down from Rosalie's visage as she erased a few stray lines.

"We should do that. It might be nice. We can even bring wine and cheese." Rosalie answered pleasantly without a second thought, the spring breeze causing her hair to tickle her face.

"Your in a nice mood today." Alice noted, pausing in her sketch temporarily to take in Rosalie's softened features. Usually the blonde had a scowl on her face or some look of displeasure, but today it was almost completely erased, replaced by a lofty look that said 'I'm beautiful and I don't have a care in the world because of it'.

"It must be the weather. Although if Edward could play some happier music it would be much appreciated." The last part was said only a touch louder and the music slowed down, Edwards hearing picking up on Rosalie's comment. With a chuckle he started playing a pop piece.

Alice felt something was off about this whole thing. Rosalie was never in a good mood and especially not because of something insignificant like the weather. What could have happened to make her act like this? She'd come downstairs and approached Alice who had been practicing her 35th language and asked her to sketch her.

"I'm redecorating and I want something to put up on my wall. And I thought your art would be perfect. Your the only artist I know that can handle drawing me in my perfection." Alice had done a double take at not Rosalie's blatant vanity but at her compliment. Since when did she like Alice's art?

"Um sure," Alice had responded a bit tongue tied despite knowing so many languages. She ran upstairs to get her sketchbook and some pencils and by the time she had settled down on the couch, Rosalie had come back downstairs decked out in her red attire.

"I want it to be black and white except for the dress. The redness will match my room color." She paused in front of Alice leaning over to stare at the fresh page the pixie had turned to, her cleavage dangerously close to falling out of the clothes. Alice backed up on instinct, averting her eyes and feeling uncomfortable. But Rosalie only moved closer, tapping the page hard and looking up at Alice through lidded eyes. "Make sure to transfer it to canvas later. How quickly do you think you can do it?"

"A day or two," Alice said feeling the urge to squirm in her seat.

"Perfect," Rosalie nearly purred and moved back taking her time to get to the chair. Carefully positioning her body she indicated for Alice to draw. Alice set to work, wondering what scheme Rosalie was up to now but she soon forgot her worries as she became more invested in her art. Rosalie was truly a joy to draw, her body built with the right curves and lines, her face sculpted by the gods themselves. But it was almost impossible to recreate her on paper and Alice knew because she had tried several times throughout the decades, sneaking quick sketches in when the blonde was preoccupied with repairing a car or watching a movie. Why such a beautiful being was hard to draw was a mystery, but Alice had practiced hard thinking it must be her fault, that she wasn't a good enough artist simply.

"What's the real reason your happy?" Alice pressed, thoughts back in the present and went to sketch in Rosalie's arms and legs before finalizing them.

Rosalie gave a smile, one full of joy and relief. "I guess it's because I finally decided on something and suddenly the world seems a bit brighter."

"Huh," Alice was intrigued. What could it be that had the blonde happy? Was it a car or something? She was only genuinely excited about fixing up and taking apart vehicles, a hobby that Alice couldn't understand. Why do that when they had enough money to buy any car they wanted.

Alice set down her pencil, more interested in continuing this conversation than drawing. "And what was the decision?"

Rosalie smiled, a coy look on her face. "It's something that's been bothering me for a while, but not anymore."

Alice wanted to sigh in exasperation. Even happy she still wouldn't speak about her feelings. Alice's disappointment was mirrored by Jasper's too loud page flip and a wrong note from Edward. They'd all been tensed, hoping Rosalie would reveal the secret to making her happy so that the rest of the Cullen's could use it to keep her so, but instead she was as secretive as usual. Alice hoped Edward had gotten a glimpse of Rosalie's thoughts, despite the fact her brain was nearly impenetrable. Alice thought of maybe trying to force a vision of Rosalie, but if the blonde had already decided then that was something in the past, well out of the reaches of Alice's powers.

"Well then, good for you," Alice commented trying to not sound too disappointed and picked up her pencil to sketch again.

There was a long silence and then: "I meant my offer when I said we should do a picnic."

Alice broke her pencil tip in shock. "Did you?" She asked reaching for the sharpener and trying to seem unaffected by this reveal. That was harder said than done when her emotions were so easy to read even Jasper didn't have to use his powers.

It really had to be something huge that had weighed on Rosalie's mind because for her to be asking to have a picnic was something Alice had never heard leave the blondes mouth in all the decades they had known each other.

"We can go to the forest at night, have a little campfire as well." When Alice didn't say anything Rosalie added, "We can even bring the boys along."

Jasper closed this book at this, dropping his pretense of reading now that the conversation had gone this way. "So the ice queen is asking us out. What do you know?" Alice too had stopped, her newly sharpened pencil snapping in her grasp. Had Rosalie implied that she had wanted to go on a midnight picnic with Alice? Alone?

"Um, today?" Alice squeaked out, dropping her feet to the floor in an attempt to ground herself. Was this really happening right now?

"Yes."

Dun dun dunnnnn came from the piano room and Alice would have rolled her eyes at Edwards sense of humor if they weren't wide open in shock. Rosalie did it for her, rolling them as Eddy zoomed into the living room before the last notes faded away.

Jasper too came to stand next to the couches, lounging against the side of Alice's couch.

"It was to be a thank you for Alice's artwork," Rosalie explained annoyance creeping into her expression. "But the boys are welcome to come if you'd like." Rosalie addressed Alice, ignoring the boys for now.

Alice would have snapped her other pencils if she had any in her hand. Since when did Rosalie do anything grander than a muttered thanks as a way of expressing gratitude for favors?

Jasper whistled. "That decision must have really lightened your soul and mind. Your all kinds of happy today." He used his powers to read Rosalie's mood, her usually locked away emotions bleeding out into the open and filling him with an immense lighthearted joy. He was surprised such a pure emotion could come from Rosalie, as the only feelings he had ever caught from her were disdain and anger.

Rosalie stood up, clearly not wanting to be part of this conversation anymore if the boys were going to join in. "Stay out of my happiness," she hissed at Jasper who raised his hands in surrender as a tinge of defensiveness flared up from her.

"Your not happy no more," Jasper whispered wistfully, but Rosalie ignored his comment even though she could still hear it.

"Come by my room when your done." Rosalie stated to Alice and then zoomed up the stairs. Alice stared at her leave and then to her nearly finished sketch of Rosalie, the part where her chest was, empty.

Jasper leaned down to look at it. "You've gotten better. It really looks like her. Your just missing one part."

"I know," Alice said and stood up, suddenly needing to be away from the boys too. A loud explosion shook the basement as what ever video game villain Emmett was fighting had exploded. A string of victorious whoops and curses followed and Jasper tipped his head to his siblings. "I best stop him before he gets too excited and breaks the TV, again. For the hundredth time." And with that he left.

Only Alice and Eddy were in the room and the brooding boy had a contemplative look on his face. Before he could ask Alice answered. "No, I don't know what's up with her but I'm not going to complain if she's being nice or as long as it makes her happy. And no, I don't think she'd appreciate it if you brought Bella along to the picnic."

Edward frowned but didn't say anything and went back to playing his piano.

Alice gathered up her art supplies, went to her room and was going to transfer the art to her canvas when she remembered she'd left the chest part blank. She hadn't forgotten to fill it in but more like she was kind of afraid to do it. She had wanted to leave it for last but then the boys had come in and made Rosalie mad. So now Alice was going to have to ask Rosalie if she could draw it in. It was embarrassing and Alice knew she shouldn't be embarrassed since art was art and she'd sketched nude models before, but for some reason it was different with Rosalie. Maybe it was because it was her adoptive sister or the fact that she was so perfect that she was worried she wouldn't do her justice...either way Alice steeled her nerves and walked up to Rosalie's door knocking on it. Edward must have heard her knock and figured what she was up to because he started playing Dracula's theme and Alice did roll her eyes this time at his humor.

"Come in."

Came Rosalie's response and Alice walked in before almost walking right back out. Rosalie was in the process of undressing, her dress halfway down her waist.

"Did you need something? Because I assume you haven't finished the painting in the five seconds since I left." She asked not at all perturbed that Alice had walked in on her.

"I can come back later. I just needed to add something to my drawing is all." Alice said looking anywhere but at her now exposed chest, the creamy skin looking extra pale against the bright red of her bra. She tried to reach for the doorknob but Rosalie stopped her.

"No it's fine. What did you need to draw?"

"Your, uh, your chest," Alice said not daring to say boobs or else she'd feel the need to light up like a brick even though she couldn't blush.

"Okay. Go ahead then." Rosalie finished pulling off the dress and tossed back her now loose hair before standing still in the middle of the room.

"Your not gonna wear your dress?" Alice tried to stop her voice from rising in pitch in panic. Did Rosalie want her to sketch her without the dress?

"Sure. It's just the chest. I'm sure the dress wasn't the important part to draw anyways," Rosalie drawled feeling comfortable despite her state of undress. Alice too flustered to differentiate if Rosalie was being vain or if it was a low key flirty comment, set her pencil to paper and drew quickly.

"So are we still doing the picnic?" Rosalie asked, hands on hips.

"Yes," Alice said, uncertain why Rosalie was so insistent on this. "I can get the boys to grab different things and we can probably be ready before twelve."

"That's good." Was the simple response, no hint of how Rosalie felt about Alice's suggestion. Was she mad because she and Alice wouldn't be alone together? She had wanted it originally.

Done in a couple of seconds Alice said a soft thanks and was about to turn on her heel when a vision caught her unaware. She froze, dropping her pad and pencil. Rosalie was in her vision and Alice never had visions about Rosalie. That should have been Alice's first clue that something was about to go wrong.