Enjoy!

Meetings and Greetings

Emmett and I descended the stairs hand-in-hand at the break of dawn. Edward was softly touching the keys of his piano and Carlisle was chatting with Esme quietly. As soon as Esme heard us, she stood and smiled at Emmett.

"So you're the Esme that everyone has been talking about," Emmett said with a chuckle. He took Esme's small hand into his large one and shook.

"That would be me. And you must be Emmett." She said, laughing lightly.

"The new kid town," Emmett mumbled, grinning.

"Well, Emmett, it's so wonderful to have you as part of our family." She pulled Emmett into a soft embrace, and a look of surprise crossed his face. He soon relaxed and hugged her back. Emmett was so large compared Esme's petite figure. I smiled at them and my eyes flickered to Carlisle. I could tell by the way he fidgeted that he was nervous.

"Carlisle?" I asked, just as Emmett and Esme released each other. He looked up at me quickly and his eyes went back down to his hands. "What's the problem?" I questioned, angered by the secretiveness.

"Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, please have a seat." Edward said, going to stand beside Carlisle. I quickly sat beside Emmett, waiting to hear what they had to say.

"I apologize to all of you, but we must leave. We have been here much too long. I am especially sorry to you three. I understand that you, Emmett, just turned and I am so sorry for this sudden change, but I assure you that it is necessary." Carlisle said, his eyes continually watching Esme's smile fade. He quickly gathered her into his arms and watched the rest of us, hoping for approval.

I was outraged. I had only been here for two years and I was being forced out of my home, because of how young I looked. None of it seemed fair. I watched Emmett shrug carelessly and smile at me. I quickly stood and pursed my lips in anger.

"And where are we planning to go, Carlisle?" I snapped. He let go of Esme, but kept his arm snaked around her waist. I could tell just by watching his eyes that he regretted having put us all through this.

"My dear friend, Tanya and her coven are in Alaska. I've arranged for us to stay with them." He said, his hand raised as if he were trying to calm me.

"What if the humans notice you're not aging there? Then we move again, Carlisle?" My hissing tone only softened, watching Carlisle in sadness.

"From where we're staying, there are a couple towns that I can work in, so we can remain there for a few decades. I realize that you're angry, Rosalie, and I am so sorry. I don't want to leave either. I feel terrible to do this to you, Esme, and Emmett, but there's no choice." His soft voice caused me to cringe in guilt from yelling at him.

"But Carlisle, what if I stayed? With Edward and Emmett? No one suspects my age." A look of shock crossed Edward's and Emmett's face. I rubbed my temples, feeling helpless.

"Rose, this could be good." I was surprised when I heard Emmett speak. He stood up beside me and hugged me. "I want to go with them." He said softly. I sighed into his chest.

"When?" I asked, directing my question to Carlisle.

"We leave tonight. Everything stays." Carlisle said, regretfully. I knew that moving meant leaving everything that we had built behind. I nodded, hugging Emmett tighter. I shuddered as I heard Esme sob. She had just gotten a job, teaching at a local university. When she told all of us a couple weeks ago, she was overflowing with joy.

I looked up at Emmett, feeling as though I may cry myself. He brushed some of my hair out of my face, slightly grinning. Watching him smile made me realize the place that I would miss the worst.

Before I could even inform Carlisle that Emmett and I were leaving, Edward murmured, "Go." I nodded, thankful, to him.

I pulled Emmett out of the house, leading him back to the lake that we were at the night before.

"I'm sorry that this had to happen so quickly." Emmett mumbled, taking me hand.

"No, don't say that. I'm being selfish. I've been here for two years and you've only been here for two days. I'm sorry that you have to make such a drastic change so early in your life." I said squeezing his hand.

He shook his head. "I don't mind. I don't have much here, whereas you can't take anything with you." He said sympathetically.

"That's not completely true," I smiled, watching Emmett. "I can take you." I murmured, shyly. Emmett quickly picked me up into his arms and began walking to the water.

"What are you doing?" I asked, suddenly alert.

"Since it's our last day here, why don't we have fun?" By now, the tips of his shoes were touching the water. He would swing his arms, as if threatening to drop me in. I clung to his shoulders with my life, although a smile was plastered on my face.

"Emmett, stop it! This is unsanitary!" I shouted, laughing. He set me down and in that second, he kicked off his shoes and buttoned down his shirt, throwing them far from the water.

"Come on, Rose." He chuckled, picking me back up into his arms, like he was cradling me.

"No! No!" I laughed, playfully hitting his chest. He was now knee deep in the lake and shaking with laughter. "Emmett! Let me go!" As soon as the words left my lips, I knew I had said the wrong thing. He let go of me, allowing me to fall in.

I resurfaced, slicking my hair away from my face. Using all my strength, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him down with me. He came back up and chortled.

"Emmett, this isn't funny!" I shouted, giggling. He wrapped his arms around my waist, picking me up and tossing me back into the water. I stayed below the water, swimming to Emmett, and pulled his ankles from underneath him. He returned above the water and laughed, grabbing my waist and pulling me towards him. I smiled, placing my hands on his shoulders, and my legs around his waist. He smiled, revealing his white teeth. I watched his eyes search me and then, before he could, I kissed him.

I locked my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He responded, closing the small space between us. My hands slid from his neck to the top of his muscled back. So caught up in the lust, I pulled Emmett closer to me. He lost his balance and we fell back in the water together.

"Don't do that." He mumbled, as he pulled me up from the water.

"Do what?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Distract me like that. You're too tempting." I laughed at that and pulled myself back to him so that our torsos were pressed together.

"Sorry," I said, not sorry at all. He kissed my cheek and looked up at the darkening sky.

"We should be getting back." He said, frowning. I nodded, letting him go. I followed Emmett toward the shore, but within a couple feet, we began splashing each other. I screamed as he sent a wave of water at me, knocking me down. I bit my lip, wading toward him seductively. He crouched down in the water, preparing for a kiss. With my lips only a centimeter from his, I threw water in his face and pushed him over. I laughed and stood up, walking on shore, leaving him in the lake.

His head popped above the water with a silly grin stretched across his face. I laughed, ringing out my sleeves. When he finally walked onto the shore, he was chuckling in joy. Before I could protest, he had me around the waist, swinging me in a circle. I giggled at him and he placed me back on my feet.

"You are just too beautiful," He murmured, placing his shirt around my shoulders. I kissed him lightly on the cheek and we began walking back toward the house holding hands.

Just as we arrived, Carlisle gave us a serious look, letting us know it was almost time. Emmett and I ran to change into dry clothes.

I ran my fingers through my golden hair, looking around my room for the last time. I quickly shed my wet clothes and pulled on loose pants and Emmett's shirt. I tied my hair in an elastic band and buttoned up the large shirt.

"It's really time to go," I commented to myself in sadness once I was downstairs, standing in Emmett's arms. I felt Emmett nod against my head.

"Edward will lead the way." Carlisle announced, taking Esme's hand. "When we come across some animals, we'll stop and hunt." I nodded, grabbing Emmett's hand. Once the five of us were on the doorstep, I looked back one last time, and then took off in a sprint to follow Edward.

We stopped once for some grizzly and then continued on the journey to our new home.

Please review and thanks for reading! -GC