Spurs

Ch. 19: Into the Sunset

BPOV

June… I can't believe that little minx forced me to wait until after school let out to get hitched but it at least the day has finally come, I thought as Momma rushed around helping me get ready for the ceremony. My nerves were on edge because not only had I not seen my Sugah for the past 24 hours but I'd been forced to stay at a hotel so I couldn't see the decorations. Not that I was too worried because Daddy wouldn't let them mess up my spread; after several venue changes on the part of Rose and Momma, I convinced them to have the wedding at the Amaranth Ranch.

Three painfully wrong hours later, I was pushed into the back of a stretch Hummer and blindfolded. Apparently, everything was going to be a total surprise. When I find out which one of my oooh so loving family thought this up, well let's just say they'd better watch out because they should know that I hate surprises… at least for myself. I was lost in my thoughts of revenge so the trip ended before I realized it. Momma helped me out of the car then guided me inside and to the glass doors that led out back before we stopped.

After the blindfold was removed, the first thing I noticed was Daddy standing there in his pale grey tux, matching Stetson and new cowboy boots. I straightened my traditional Spanish style dress while Momma danced out the doors to take her seat and I got my first look at the decorations.

A large pavilion had been set up flush to the back of the house while yellow rose petals were scattered down the aisle all the way to the altar. The chairs on either side of the aisle were filled with friends that both I and the Cullen's had made over the years. Shockingly, all of the Volturi made it; I knew the brothers were coming because Aro was officiating but I hadn't expected the entire Guard. The rest of the Dead Man's Hand was there along with quite a few nomads as well as a smattering of shifters and weres.

The Yellow Rose of Texas started to play of the sound system and Daddy took my arm then walked down the aisle. The music stopped when we reached the altar, then he kissed my forehead and gave a short bow to Aro before he sat down next to Momma in the front row. The music started again but this time the song was Cole Porter's Anything Goes. It was a bit of a cheeky choice but it fit my Sugah to a tee.

Carlisle, looking very sophisticated and British in his top coat, walked Rosalie toward the altar. She looked so beautiful in her vintage 1930's style gown that she took my breath away. He copied Daddy's actions from earlier and Rose and I turned to Aro.

"My friends, we are here today to witness the joining of our two Dear Ones in the bonds of wedded bliss. It has been a long road for both of them but Fate finally brought them together," the Volturi King began but I too absorbed in the stunning creature next to me that I pretty much tuned him out until he reached the important of the vows.

"Do you, Isabella Marie Whitlock, take Rosalie as your eternal wife?"

"I do," I replied emotionally.

"Do you, Rosalie Lillian Hale, take Isabella as your eternal wife?"

"I do," she answered without hesitation while tears flowed from my eyes.

"By the authority vested in me by… well, me, I now pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss each other," Aro finished and I pulled my mate into a searing kiss to the catcalls of our guests.

Five years later…

RPOV

Rochester, New York had changed very little since my human life back in the mid-1930's. I hadn't been back since that fateful night in 1935 but the city was no longer associated with my tragic end. Talking to Jasper and Esme for years helped me to get over the past and not let it define. The past five years of wedded bliss with Bella reinforced that. We'd spent the morning shopping in New York and hopped the charter jet to head back to Utah. My mother-in-law/hyper-pixie sister, Alice, had a big anniversary party planned for us and there would be hell to pay if we were so much as a second late.

That's why I'd been shocked when the plane touched down on a private strip a short while later. My beautiful mate explained that she wanted to see where I grew up. There was something in her eyes that told me that wasn't the whole story but close enough to the truth that I wasn't about to call her on it. When we made it into town, I played the part of tour guide.

We wandered without any real sense of direction or purpose while I pointed out the bank where my father had worked, the school I'd gone, my old house then where Vera and her husband lived. Suddenly, I stopped because we'd ended up on the spot where I'd spent my last human moments. Bella stepped in front of me then pulled a wrapped package from her purse and handed it to me. Wondering why she'd chosen that moment to give me a present in this spot of all places I tore into the paper to reveal an old hardcover book. The title on the dust jacket was The Bloody Bride, but that wasn't what made me gasp; the authors name was Conrad Hale.

Bells guided me back to the jet while I was lost in thought. As soon as she pushed me into a seat, I started to read the book. Shockingly, it was a fictional story based on my own early history; in fact, it was quite accurate on too many details that I'd never told anyone before. The authors note at the end of the story explained the accuracy.

Conrad Hale had been born in 1945 and was my youngest brother. He had grown up hearing about the older sister that had died but nobody ever gave him any details. When he was old enough, he started to dig until he found out the truth about my death. A couple of interesting fact came to light during his search. The first was that there was never any investigation into the violent murders of Royce King or his friends. Royce had been the prime suspect in my disappearance but his father prevented any investigation so the towns' people thought my father snapped then took matters into his own hands; a belief that eventually led him to being elected mayor.

The second, and more interesting fact, was that a young boy had witnessed what happened from the attack until Carlisle saved me. While the police believed the first part of the story, nobody believed the end where I'd been bitten by a vampire. The general consensus was that he'd been so traumatized that he imagined the last part. My brother eventually tracked down the witness and could see the truth in the other man's eyes. The witness' statement combined with his own investigation provided the basis for the book. The very last line of the acknowledgement would've brought tears to my eyes if I were still able to cry:

"It is my deepest wish that the story of Rosalie being rescued by a vampire is true. She had too much left to do in the world. Maybe, one day, I'll finally get to meet the big sister I never knew but whose loss affected our family deeply."

Bella watched the emotions play out on my face and pulled me into her arms. We stayed that way for a good half-hour before she spoke.

"I found the book in a used bookshop a couple of years ago. When I realized he was your brother, I contacted the Le Matt and the boys to track him down. Turned out he was still alive because they found him last year. Conrad was confined to a hospital bed with Stage Four cancer in his brain. The guys got permission from Aro to tell him the truth and told him everything. He told them that he didn't want you to finally meet him only to lose him soon after. According to Holiday, your baby brother spent his last days gathering together old photos, videos, films and family journals for you to have. Just before he died, Conrad also donated enough sperm for us to have a rather large family if you want to," she explained softly as she stroked my cheek with her hand lovingly.

The brunette dhampire continued to hold me as I sobbed uncontrollably. By the time the plane landed at the commuter airport in Utah, I was fine. Conrad was right; it would have been far crueler to meet my brother only to have him ripped away from me. Bells and I discussed everything on the car drive home and decided to honor my family by starting one of our own.

The party back at the ranch was even happier than it normally would've been because Alice had already had a vision about our choice to have a kid and told everyone else. She and the rest of the girls had already decorated a nursery; in neutral colors, of course because the Pixie hadn't been able to see the sex of the child. The rest of our gifts from the family were all baby things. That left one final box, the one from my brother; the tangible link between my past and my new future.

Epilogue

BPOV

If I'd known how fertile Hale sperm apparently was, I'd never of volunteered… nah, I would've but made sure I was knocked out during labor because natural childbirth hurt like a bitch.

Conrad Jasper Hale, Daniel Carlisle Whitlock, Lilith Rose Hale and Esmarie Alice Whitlock were born exactly ten months after our fifth anniversary. We decided to split the last names between the four babies so that both family names would continue and based on which side they took after. Casper and Lilith had the trademark Hale blonde hair and crystal blue eyes whereas Daniel and Esmarie were had my chestnut locks and Whitlock features. We breathed a sigh of relief when Grandpa confirmed that the quadruplets were all dhampires. The thought of eventually losing one of our little ones is just too horrible to contemplate.

Naturally, the family went gaga over the little critters but Rose and I put our foot down about not spoiling them too bad. Leah and Angela gazed wistfully at the babies and it wasn't a big shocker when the announced that they were going to look for a sperm donor themselves.

Rose cuddled up next to me on the couch and we watched Daddy and Momma play with the kids. She kissed my temple and we basked in the family moment. In a few years, we might expand the family again but for now, the wife and I are just going to enjoy the ride.

The End.

AN: Another story completed and many more to go. Sorry this is late getting posted but I had to rewrite everything because I can't find the flash drive that has my stories on it. I'm hoping that my sister accidently took it but won't find out until she gets back from vacation.