Summary-Rosalie and Emmett's story from 1915 until they meet the Cullens and then their life as Cullens up to the beginning of the Twilight books.

This runs alongside the background story I wrote for Jasper and Alice called Midnight Shadows so you may notice similar storylines and scenes later in this story. Rated M for adult themes that will no doubt pop up as I go along.

XXX

1915

"Can you please contact my husband?" the woman begged groggily and the nurse patted her hand gently.

"Don't worry," the nurse assured her. "The manager of your hotel sent someone to the building where his meeting was scheduled. I am sure he will be here shortly."

"Where is my baby?" the woman whispered.

"She is in the nursery, they will bring her to see you soon," the nurse replied and bustled away quickly. It was a busy day on the maternity ward of the busy New York City hospital and she didn't have the time to console the newest arrival to the ward.

Back in the room the woman lay back on her pillow as tears filled her eyes. She heard a movement and turned and watched as her room mate walked slowly into the room and climbed into the bed beside her. They had yet to meet, the woman had been gone since she had been wheeled into the room and now the woman flashed her a huge grin.

"Hi, I'm Felicity," she introduced herself.

"I'm Lillian," the woman answered.

"I am sorry if I'm prying but are you okay Lillian?" Felicity asked as she pulled a blanket over her legs.

"I'm just a little lonely," Lillian admitted. "My husband, George, and I are only visiting New York. He had to attend a banking conference here for work. I went into labour in our hotel room. They haven't been able to locate him yet and we have no family here."

"It is difficult," Felicity nodded. "Where are you from?"

"Rochester," Lillian replied.

"I understand," Felicity murmured. "My husband and I were here visiting an old college friend of his when I went into labour early. He and his friend had gone up north to camp for the weekend. He won't return until tomorrow and like you we are from out of town. We have four boys already and he hasn't attended a birth yet."

"Where are you from?" Lillian asked.

"Knoxville, Tennessee," Felicity answered. "We're a long way from home."

"You are," Lillian agreed. "I haven't seen my baby girl, have you seen your baby yet?"

"Yes, he was born yesterday," Felicity smiled. "They bring the babies around about this time. Don't worry, you'll meet her soon." Felicity's words cheered Lillian and she settled back against her pillows to wait.

A short while later the door to their room opened and a young nurse walked in pushing a double baby cot and she smiled at the women as she stopped it between their two beds.

"Here you go ladies, your babies," she grinned and turned and hurried back out of the room again. Lillian leaned up on her elbows and looked into the crib and smiled when she saw her baby girl snuggled up next to Felicity's baby boy.

"It looks like she has made a friend," Lillian commented.

"It does," Felicity agreed. "Have you picked out a name for her yet?"

"I suspected I was carrying a girl," Lillian confessed. "My husband and I have had her name decided since I was three months along. Rosalie Lillian Hale."

"That is such a pretty name," Felicity grinned.

"Does your little one have a name yet?" Lillian asked politely.

"Yes he does," Felicity smiled. "Emmett John McCarty."

"It suits him," Lillian smirked. "And he has the most adorable dimples."

"He does, doesn't he?" Felicity said proudly. "All my boys have them."

"You're lucky having so many sons," Lillian smiled as she sat back again but she had to admit even if she only ever had her Rosalie she was happy. She turned her eyes to the tiny babies in the crib and she watched with a contented smile as Rosalie slept soundly beside baby Emmett.

XXX

1932

"Hey Rosie," a voice called out and seventeen year old Rosalie Hale turned and a soft smile spread across her face as her brother, Jackson, raced down the street towards her. "What are you doing walking around on your own?"

"Mother needed some eggs for dinner," Rosalie said as she held up the basket in her hands. "Lucy and Matthew were busy doing their homework so I said I would go for her."

"It's getting dark," Jackson murmured. "You shouldn't be walking around on your own Rosie. The streets get dangerous after dark."

"The sun is still shining," Rosalie laughed as he reached out and took the basket from her. He hooked it over one arm and then Rosalie tucked her hand around his other arm and they began to walk together down the street.

An older man bustled past them and purposely brushed up against Rosalie and she turned and glared at him. Her beauty meant that sometimes these kind of things happened but she had found it was better to just ignore it than to make a scene. Jackson moved his arm protectively around her and pulled her closer to him as he muttered something under his breath and Rosalie turned and smirked at him in amusement.

"Jackson Hale," she teased lightly. "If Mother heard you speaking like that in front of me she would have an anxiety attack."

"You weren't meant to hear it," Jackson growled. "That man had a nerve, brushing up against an innocent young woman in such a way. He is lucky I didn't blacken both his eyes."

"Jack, it happens all the time," Rosalie sighed. "Just ignore it."

"I will not," Jackson snapped. "Your beauty is not an excuse for men to behave badly towards you. You deserve so much better Rosie, you should be treated like a queen."

"If only you treated your girlfriends so well," Rosalie laughed.

"You're different Rosie," Jackson sighed.

"Why?" Rosalie demanded. "I am still a woman."

"You're my sister," Jackson growled. "If any man ever disrespects you I will kill him."

"Don't be so dramatic," Rosalie laughed.

"I am deadly serious," Jackson said firmly.

"I know you are," Rosalie sighed and snuggled closer to him. "And I appreciate it Jack, I really do." Although Jackson was actually a year younger than Rosalie he had always had a protective attitude towards his older sister. They had been the only children of William and Lillian Hale for so long and although they now had a seven year old sister, Lucinda, and a five year old brother, Matthew, they were still extremely close. In the last few years Jackson had got even more protective of her and Rosalie suspected it was because of her immense beauty and the way men looked at her when she went out. They reached their house and Jackson opened the gate for them and led her up to the front door.

"Next time wait until I get home Rosie," Jackson scolded lightly as they entered the front door and Rosalie just rolled her eyes before heading to the kitchen to deliver the eggs to their mother.

XXX

The next morning Rosalie was sitting in her room in front of her dresser, brushing her long golden locks when there was a knock on her door. She set down her brush and walked over and opened the door and smiled when she saw her mother.

"Darling, I need your help," Lillian said as she breezed past Rosalie into the room. Rosalie shut the door and turned to her mother and watched as she sat down on the chair Rosalie had been sitting on.

"What is it?" Rosalie asked as she walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Your father left some important papers here this morning," Lillian explained. "I know he needs them for a meeting this afternoon. He was working on them late last night. Can you take them down to the bank for him?"

"Why can't you?" Rosalie asked.

"My sewing group meets in an hour," Lillian told her. "We are planning the Christmas party for the orphanage we sponsor today. I must be there."

"Jackson could do it," Rosalie sighed.

"He took the children to school and hasn't come home," Lillian frowned. "No doubt he is hanging around with those friends of his. That boy is going to get in trouble one day. I only hope he doesn't get any young lady into trouble with him. An irate father at my door with a shotgun is not what I need."

"Oh mother," Rosalie groaned. "Jackson is a good boy, he wouldn't do anything to get into trouble or bring shame on the rest of the family."

"He is out a lot lately," Lillian mused.

"He won't be getting into trouble," Rosalie assured her, knowing her mother was being a little unfair when Jackson was out looking for work, not hanging out with his undesirable friends or chasing women.

"I hope so," Lillian sighed. "Anyway, there is no one else. Can you take the papers to your father?"

"I'm not supposed to go to the bank," Rosalie pointed out.

"I'm sure your father won't mind this once," Lillian replied. "You go straight there and straight back. No dallying young lady."

"I will," Rosalie promised, looking forward to the freedom of an unescorted trip downtown even if it was only to the bank where her father worked.

XXX

The sun was warm and there was only a light, cooling breeze blowing as Rosalie walked through the busy streets of downtown Rochester. She enjoyed the walk and she was well aware of the attention she was getting. She was used to it now, people had been staring at her for as long as she could remember because of her beauty. Her mother had told her that even when she was a baby they had been stopped when they were out so people could admire the gorgeous child.

When she reached the front of her father's bank building she reluctantly stepped out of the warm sunshine and walked into the foyer of the building. She hurried to the elevator and rode it up to the third floor, where she knew her father's desk was located. As soon as she stepped off the elevator her father looked up from his desk and when he saw Rosalie he jumped up and hurried over to her as many of his colleagues looked at Rosalie.

"What are you doing here?" George demanded as he reached her.

"Mother asked me to deliver these to you," Rosalie said quickly and thrust the papers in her hand towards him.

"Oh, thank you," George mumbled as he glanced around quickly and took her arm and walked her back to the elevator. "I'll see you at home tonight. Make sure you go straight home Rosie. Don't linger in town."

"I won't," Rosalie promised as George reached out and pushed the button to summons the elevator for her.

"George!" a voice bellowed and Rosalie noticed her father seemed to jump a little before turning in the direction of the voice. Rosalie followed her father's gaze and she felt her heart flutter a little when she saw a handsome man only a few years older than herself.

"Do we have a new client?" the man asked as he reached them.

"No sir," George said politely although the man was decades younger than him. "This is my daughter Rosalie. Rosie, this is Mr. King. His father owns the bank and Mr. King supervises my department."

"Call me Royce," Royce smiled as he looked at Rosalie and she couldn't help smiling back. "A pleasure to meet you my dear."

"You too," Rosalie murmured shakily as he reached forward and took her hand and lifted it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. She noticed the same look of amazement on his face that people often had when they were introduced to her as George and Lillian Hale's daughter and she knew he was thinking what the others all had, how did people as plain looking as her parents have such a beautiful daughter. The elevator bell rang to signal its arrival behind her and she had to smile when she saw the relief pass over her father's face.

"I better go," Rosalie murmured. "Father, I will see you tonight, Mr. King, nice to meet you."

Before either of the men could say another word she stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to close the door and she tried to still the shaking of her body as the elevator descended. She didn't even realise the doors had opened again on the ground floor until people started getting in and she quickly pushed past them and rushed through the foyer. As she stepped out into the busy street her mind was occupied by the man she had just met and for once she didn't even noticed the stares she got as passed through the crowd.

"Royce King," she whispered to herself and she felt like she floated home as she thought of the attractive man she had just met.