Chapter Text
Rosalie Hale/Medusa’s POV:
All of us were waiting to hear if Cygnet was okay. Seeing her as sick as she has been the last few days has been terrifying. Especially since I was just getting used to the idea of letting a human into our lives again.
I remember the day Bella came up to me, her face showing clear signs of crying before she came to see me.
I envied her for her humanity, and seeing how much older she looked than all of us had only cemented that, as she and Edward both kept pushing back her turning. First, they’d settled on doing it after graduating high-school, but then it was after their honey moon… but soon they both started college, so Edward convinced her to wait again… but here she was, days from graduating college, human as ever, telling me she no longer wants to bind her self to Edward.
I helped her plan her leaving so Alice wouldn’t know, and kept away from Edward and kept my mind off it as much as I could. Emmett and I definitely didn't mind the time away from the family we had after that… apparently helping your adoptive brothers wife leave him isn't good sibling behaviour.
Twenty years later, to see a girl who looks so much like Bella at our new school, whisper my name without introduction and pass out… well it was a shock. But knowing Bella had made the best of her humanity was such a blessing.
Getting to know Cygnet has been fun, and I’d hate to loose her. It’s also made us seen as approachable at school, but it’s just the way it is these days. That’s why Emmett has taken to computers and made it so we have our own private social media servers for all platforms, allowing us to manipulate our presence as needed.
Cygnet has become my pride and joy in a way, knowing I was instrumental in her existence, and knowing that Bella named her after me for that reason.
I hope Emmett’s wrong. I don’t think I could handle having to introduce Cygnet to our world… for her to know what monsters we truly are.
When Carlisle gets the call, everyone is tense, and he looks solemn as his eyes go right to Emmett as he says it.
“Rosie has shifted, Esme and I are going to help bring her and Bella here. Jasper, I think its best you help out, but everyone else should go to school. It would make sense if Jasper came down with the same thing as Rosie… she was in several classes with him.”
Emmett, despite being right, looks crestfallen. I guess he felt the same.
Without another word said, I turn on my heels and run, forgoing my e-bike. I’m not even sure if I will go to school or not, but I know I can’t hang around there. Once in town, I stick to a jogging speed, and find myself going down her street. I can smell her as I stand out front, and I know I’d be crying if I was capable of tears.
Bella spots me, so I walk up to the front door to talk to her.
“You don’t look okay, Rosalie.”
I let out a harsh laugh.
“I know she isn’t mine, Bella… but I was so excited for you and for her… you guys are so human. I just… I can’t stand the idea that shes now a part of this world.”
I look at her, and realise Bella doesn’t even seem phased.
“You didn’t know… did you?”
Bella frowns at me, deep in thought.
“No, I didn’t know. But I can’t say I’m saddened by it. And it’s not like she can’t have a normal life. Sam has grey hairs and a grand-kid on the way last I heard, Paul has a fleet of children and a great job… Jacob has remained shifting only in case something happens again. But he was looking at stopping, and considering just keeping the legends alive. But now?”
Bella looks over her shoulder, concern on her face. When she looks up at me, theres tears in her eyes.
“At least now, we don’t have to lie to her. I feel like I can finally open up fully with her, once she adjusts.”
I think over her words, as I hear the quiet sounds of an electric car coming down the road. I look over my shoulder and spot Carlisle in his van, Esme at his side. Jasper appears behind me, his hair messy from a run. When my parents pull in, I see Edward in the car too.
Bella gasps, his eyes landing right on her.
I take that as my cue to leave, and turn-tail for the second time today. My brother reuniting with his estranged wife is not something I need to see.
The whole school day I’m fretting, but I refuse to look at my phone for updates. Emmett pulls me into a private space during lunch and comforts me in a way only he can, and when he holds me after, he doesn’t press me to open up.
We spent two years in the Netherlands after Bella left, so I know he’s figured out how I feel about this without me needing to say anything. When we return to school right before classes start, he hugs me again, whispering in my ear.
“I know how you feel, Rose, I see you, I love you.”
“Thank you, Em… I love you too.”
When school lets out, I don’t leave right away, letting Emmett and Alice see her first. I don’t even know if I could stomach seeing her at all.
Nothing. And I mean nothing, could have prepared me for what happened when I did see her.
As soon as I open the front door, her eyes land on me. As she begins walking twards me, Edward curses, his eyes falling onto mine, but I struggle to look away as Rosalie looks at me, like really at me. No fear or distrust on her face.
When she falls to her knees in front of me, love all over her face as she looks right into me, she whispers my name.
I nearly collapse as the shock of whats happening hits me, our name sounding like a prayer.
Rosalie Swan just imprinted on me.
Bella gasps as Edward tells everyone what just happened, but all I feel is confused.
A vague memory of Jacob explaining what imprinting was to me when Edward and Bella were on isle Esme floats through my head.
“No one knows why we imprint, or what its true purpose is. Some say its for the best genetic match, others think its our soul finding our equal. But I look at Quil and Clare, and think how can it be romantic or sexual in any way, if he imprinted on a child? How can a three year old be his equal?
“Which leads me to why I think it happens. When one of us imprints, it means we are bound to be their protector, their friend. Sure, if your like Sam or Paul, imprinting on someone age appropriate, there’s nothing wrong with a relationship. But I don’t think that’s the point. I think somewhere in the imprinted’s future, something will happen to them where only their wolf can help them.”
I questioned him about the freedom of choice, telling him I thought the whole thing was stupid. He was inclined to agree.
The conversation definitely lead to Jacob and I being closer than I had ever imagined, but he was jealous that Edward got the girl. I was jealous that Bella wanted to throw her humanity away, never having lived.
Which makes me curious to what he’ll make of this imprint. I find it hard to believe that he could still think Cygnet will someday be my only hope.
I look up, realising I had kept my eyes on her for way to long, and I look around. Everyone seems to be in varied states of shock and awe, but it’s Emmett who I’m the most concerned about.
But he just looks happy. Like he knows something I don’t, and can’t wait to share it with me.
For once in my life, I feel uncomfortable with all the attention being focused on me, on us. I turn to leave, but Cygnet just grabs onto me, her eyes pleading.
“Please, don’t walk away… I don’t what I’m going through or what this is, I just know that I need you here with me.”
Her tone of voice makes my dead heart break, so I relent.
“Of course I’ll stay, Cygnet. It seems we have a lot to talk about.”
I’m just unsure how much of the conversation I’m ready for. I remind myself that Cygnet knows nothing about what she is, and that thanks to the Treaty, I can’t fill her in. I curse internally as I realise this.
But the anger I harbour for the cruelty of our world melts away as suddenly I find myself being enveloped into her arms. The dog stench isn’t anywhere near as bad as Jacob or his packs were, and her body feels so warm and comfortable. And size wise, shes not too far off Emmett, so my body finds itself aligning with hers easily.
What am I going to do?