The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink as Emmett's jeep cruised along the seemingly endless highway. Rosalie glanced out the window, her golden eyes reflecting the vibrant colors of the sunset. She sighed softly, feeling a warmth she hadn't experienced in decades. Beside her, Kiara shuffled in her seat, trying to find a comfortable position for her mostly human-ish body.

The three vampires had no problems with the 34 hour drive to Chicago. Usually, they'd need to stop for gas around 5-6 times for the entire journey but since they didn't need to eat or sleep or even stretch their legs, it wasn't a concern. However, with Kiara having decided to join them on their drive, it had now been extended into an almost 2 day operation so that Kiara had time to eat, stretch and use the toilet.

Did that mean it would be any more comfortable for her? Unlikely.

"Seriously, you guys couldn't just fly there?" Kiara grumbled, her impatience getting the better of her. "I mean, we wouldn't have to stop every few hours if it wasn't for me."

They were only four hours into their planned 48 hour drive, and Beverly knew that if the shapeshifter didn't mean so much to her beloved sister, she'd have kicked her out of Emmett's jeep after the first hour.

"Kiara, we've been over this," Rosalie said gently, wrapping an arm around her girlfriend. "We're in this together, remember?"

"Besides, Garrett isn't exactly on our diet," Emmett chimed in with a grin from the driver's seat. "He isn't exactly a... frequent flier. It's safer this way, trust me."

"Speaking of which," Beverly turned around from the front passenger seat, her piercing blue eyes meeting Kiara's brown ones, "you really don't need to come if you don't want to, Kiara. We can handle this without you. We can drop you off here, and you'll be back in Forks in like 2 hours if you shift and run..."

"Thanks, but I'm sticking with you guys," Kiara replied, her voice laced with determination. "Rosalie has my back, so I'm going to have hers."

"Stubborn as always," Beverly muttered under her breath, turning back around in her seat and holding back her sigh. If Kiara just calmed down with her random road trip games, they'd both find this much less painful. 

"Hey, are you nervous about the pack being apart for the first time in a while?" Rosalie asked, her gaze filled with concern. She knew how much the pack meant to Kiara, and the responsibility she felt as their alpha. Truthfully, she'd been a little surprised when Kiara chose Rosalie over her pack - although she knew that she'd do the same in a heartbeat for Kiara.

"Feels weird, not gonna lie," Kiara admitted, resting her head on Rosalie's shoulder. "Especially now that I'm like... they're alpha. I hope they'll be okay without me. I don't really think Sam has ever left the pack for this period of time before, so I think it's kind of uncharted waters for Jake, Seth and Leah too."

"Your pack is strong," Emmett reassured her from the driver's seat. "They'll manage just fine. Besides, the only thing you need to worry about is your brother and Leah not killing each other before they make it to the Denalis."

"True," Kiara agreed, but inside, doubt gnawed at her.

"Focus on what's happening now," Rosalie whispered, sensing Kiara's internal turmoil. "We're in this together, and we'll face whatever comes our way."

The hum of the jeep's engine mixed with the sound of tires rolling over the highway created a soothing background noise. The rhythmic vibrations from the road were making it almost impossible for Kiara to stay awake, even though she was surrounded by vampires who didn't need sleep. She glanced at Emmett, who had his attention focused on the road ahead.

"Speaking of those two," Emmett said, breaking the silence that had settled over the car like a warm blanket. "Why did Leah decide to go with Jacob?"

Kiara furrowed her brow, trying to remember if Leah had given her a specific reason or even a vibe that suggested why she'd accepted Jacob's offer.

"You know, I don't think she ever told me why. I guess she just didn't want to be left behind to watch Seth and Bree acting all lovey-dovey."

"Can't say I blame her," Beverly chuckled from the passenger seat. Her eyes teasingly motioning to where Kiara's head was now resting on Rosalie's shoulders, her legs tucked up on the seats as she pressed herself against the blonde.

They fell into a comfortable silence, with only the sounds of the road to keep them company. Rosalie idly played with Kiara's fingers, tracing the lines on her palm and twining their fingers together. The warmth of Rosalie's touch and the steady rhythm of the car lulled Kiara into drowsiness, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing mile.

Before she knew it, Kiara's head lolled to the side, resting against Rosalie's shoulder as she succumbed to sleep. The three vampires in the car exchanged amused glances, their laughter held in check by the fragile peace they shared. 

Rosalie continued to stroke Kiara's hair, her touch feather-light so as not to disturb her slumber. Beverly broke the silence as she turned to face Rosalie, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.

"So, are you worried about taking Kiara to meet Garrett?" she asked, keeping her voice low so as not to wake the sleeping shapeshifter.

Rosalie hesitated for a moment, her fingers stilling in Kiara's hair. She glanced down at Kiara's peaceful expression and sighed softly.

"I'm not worried, per se," she admitted, searching for the right words to explain her feelings. "But I am... apprehensive."

"Apprehensive?" Emmett echoed from the driver's seat, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He knew Rosalie and Garrett had a complicated history, but he also believed in the bond between Rosalie and Kiara. "You really think Kiara would judge us for our past?"

Rosalie shook her head, her expression softening.

"No, that's not it," she said, her gaze returning to Kiara's sleeping form. "I know she won't judge us. It's just... I worry that she might be disappointed in us. In me."

"Disappointed?" Beverly frowned, trying to understand her sister's concerns. "Rosalie, Kiara loves you. She knows we've all made mistakes and learned from them. That's what makes us who we are today. And bare in mind that you never indulged the way that Emmett and I used to with Garrett..."

"Besides," Emmett added with a grin, "Kiara's got a pretty impressive knack for forgiveness and understanding. She's not the type to hold a grudge over something that days ago, let alone stuff that happened years ago."

Rosalie managed a small smile, her heart warmed by their reassurances. She knew they were right - Kiara was nothing if not loyal and understanding. Still, she couldn't help but feel a tiny flutter of anxiety deep in her chest. The trio's brief past with Garrett was a part of her life she'd never shared with Kiara, and the thought of bringing it to light made her feel vulnerable in a way she hadn't experienced in decades.

"Thank you," Rosalie murmured, her eyes still locked on Kiara's sleeping face. "I know you're right. It's just... this is new territory for us, and I want everything to go smoothly."

"Trust me," Emmett said confidently, his eyes meeting Rosalie's in the rearview mirror. "Everything's going to be fine. Just have faith in yourself, and in Kiara."

"Emmett's right," Beverly chimed in, reaching back to give Rosalie's hand a reassuring squeeze. "For once."

The shapeshifter's steady breaths were a comforting warmth against Rosalie's cold skin, reminding her just how alive and vibrant the young woman beside her truly was.

"Kiara's so peaceful when she sleeps," Beverly mused, breaking the silence with a fond smile. "You'd never guess what a firecracker she is when she's awake."

"Isn't that the truth?" Rosalie agreed, chuckling softly. As she spoke, she gently began to stroke Kiara's hair, her fingers gliding through the inky black locks with practiced ease.

And for the first time since they'd embarked on this journey, she truly believed that no matter what awaited them in Chicago, they'd face it together - just as they always had, and always would.

____

Leah looked over at Jacob as he continued to flick through the book on his lap, Renesmee's half-awake form peering down at the pictures as he read the book to her. She rolled her eyes ever so slightly, slumping back a little more in her seat as she fiddled with the sleeves on the sweater that Kiara had given her.

She rubbed at the collar of the material, before looking up and noticing that Edward was looking at her through the rearview mirror. She furrowed her eyebrows at him, biting back a nippy comment for the sake of the child in the car and instead choosing to divert her attention to the snow that she could see outside the window.

Leah had never been a huge fan of snow - sure, she'd grown up in the cold Washington seasons, but snow wasn't something she'd ever really grown to love. She'd never had a reason to like it.

Unlike the trio that were heading off to Chicago, they'd at least flown from Seattle to central Alaska and therefore didn't have a long car journey ahead of them. Leah was just grateful that she was starting to get used to the scents of the vampires, or she was sure she'd have thrown up on the plane.

The road opened up ahead of them, winding through a thick forest blanketed in pristine snow. Leah stared out of the window, her breath misting the glass as she watched the trees pass by in a blur. The hum of the car engine was a comforting background noise to her thoughts, which were in turmoil. Her mind kept drifting to the events that had unfolded in the past few weeks, ever since they had learned about the existence of Renesmee and the growing bond between Jacob and the half-vampire child.

Fucking imprints, Leah thought.

She turned slightly to glance at Jacob, who was still engrossed in the book with Renesmee. A pang of bittersweet emotion tugged at her heart. She was happy for her pack brother (to some extent... he was still a dick to her most of the time), of course, but a part of her couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. It wasn't easy being the only one left without a true mate in their pack.

She'd always thought she was okay with not having a mate, not wanting to be bound to one place or one person forever. But seeing Kie, Jake and Seth and feeling the admiration they had in their hearts for their imprints... yeah, that sucked for her.

Lost in her thoughts, Leah almost missed the subtle shift in the atmosphere inside the car. Renesmee had fallen asleep against Jacob's chest, her small hand curled into a fist against his shirt. Jacob glanced down at her with a tender smile before meeting Leah's gaze from beside her.

"Hey Leah," he said softly, breaking the silence that had settled over them. "I know things have been... complicated lately, but I just want you to know that I'm here for you, okay? Always."

Leah felt a lump form in her throat at his words. Despite their differences and rocky history, Jacob still cared for her in his own gruff way. She nodded wordlessly, unable to trust her voice to respond - not that she really wanted to start oversharing about her feelings with Bella and Edward listening in on their every word anyway.

She shifted in her seat, trying to shake off the mix of emotions swirling inside her. Glancing out the window again, she watched as the trees thinned out, revealing a small clearing ahead where the sunlight filtered through the branches, creating a golden halo around the pristine snow on the ground.

"We're here."

Edward's voice cut through the tense silence, all four of them seeming to tense up as the car rolled up the drive. As the car slowed to a stop at their destination, Leah took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited them in Denali. 

The Denali coven's house stood before them, a grand structure blending seamlessly with the wintry landscape. Despite her reservations about being in vampire territory, Leah couldn't deny the beauty of their home. Almost within seconds, she noticed in the distance that four vampires had appeared at the entrance, just too far away for her to get a proper look at any of them.

"Edward, is everything all right? Why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

Leah ignored the conversation between the vampires and Edward as Bella turned to look at her daughter, her eyes briefly flickering to meet Leah's. They'd never gotten along before now, and while Leah wasn't in any rush to become besties with her, she knew that Bella understood her shapeshifter obligation to protect Renesmee.

"Okay. Time to meet some new people," Bella said to Renesmee, who instantly scowled at the idea.

"What if they don't like me?"

"They'll love you," Jacob told her, no hesitation in his voice as he smiled down at her. Renesmee smiled back at  him for a minute before looking at Leah, then back to the other two.

"Leah didn't like me."

Yeah, Leah thought, no fucking surprise there.

"They will. Once they understand you," Bella continued after Leah said nothing, not providing the reassurance to the younger girl that they all hoped she would. They knew Leah didn't hate Renesmee... they just weren't sure if she did actually like her or not.

The tension in the air was palpable as the group made their way towards the Denali coven, each step echoing in the crisp mountain air. The Denalis, normally composed and elegant, looked stunned as they laid eyes on Renesmee for the first time. Carmen's hand flew to her mouth in shock, while Eleazar's eyes widened in amazement. Even the stoic Kate seemed to be at a loss for words.

Within the matter of seconds, they were hissing at the realisation that Renesmee was there for a reason - a reason that Kate and Tanya absolutely wanted no involvement with.

"The Volturi will come for all of us!"

"You get that thing out of here!"

Tanya and Kate both lunged for Edward, Tanya with little to no success as he simply batted her out of the way and into a fresh pile of snow. Kate, however, was much more successful and connected her palm to his skin, sending him groaning as the voltage shocks travelled through his body.

Bella sped forward at that, her hand grabbing on to Kate's hand and pulling the woman off her husband. Kate slid across the cold ground, not taking her eyes off Renesmee as she rose to her feet and intended to target the child directly this time.

As soon as her foot hit the ground, Leah felt that familiar tingle go up her spine. Jacob's head slowly turned to look at Leah, seeing the stance that she had taken and instantly knew this was about to get out of control.

"LEAH NO!"

But Leah was gone, and in her place was a large, growing grey wolf. Kate launched herself forward, but she was body-slammed into and sent tumbling with the wolf across the rocky ground.

"She has blood in her veins. You can feel her warmth!" Edward replied, the family all stalling in their movements as they looked closer at Renesmee and saw the mist of hot air fall from her lips from where she stood behind Jacob. "I'm her biological father. Bella is her mother."

Leah's muscles tensed as she sprang forward once more as Kate went to lunge again, her wolf form fueled by a mix of protective instinct and a primal urge to defend her pack. The collision with Kate sent rocks flying, the impact vibrating through the earth beneath them. With a fierce growl, Leah pinned Kate down, her jaws inches away from the vampire's throat.

Kate's amber eyes widened in shock as she felt the weight of the wolf bearing down on her. The crackling electricity that usually danced around her skin faded, overpowered by Leah's raw strength and determination. For a split second, their gazes locked in an intense stare that seemed to stretch beyond time itself.

Jacob rubbed at his forehead as Bella tried to convince Leah to get off Kate, only praying that his sister was having more success on their road trip to Chicago than they were having in Denali.

____

It was in hour 28 of their trip that Emmett accidentally let slip that the three vampires in the car had spent a decade hanging out with Garrett and not with the rest of the Cullens. 

Rosalie arched an eyebrow at Emmett, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she processed his slip-up. The tension in the car seemed to thicken, the air growing heavy with unspoken questions as Rosalie's gaze flickered between Emmett and Beverly. 

Kiara, who had been quietly observing the dynamics within the car, shifted in her seat next to Rosalie. Rosalie couldn't quite read the expression on her mate's face.

Emmett's face paled slightly as he realized his slip-up, and he quickly tried to change the subject by pointing out a passing road sign. But his feeble attempt at distraction didn't fool anyone. Beverly let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head at her husband's clumsiness.

"You never told me you left Carlisle and the others," Kiara said, her tone a lot softer than Rosalie was expecting.

"I was going to," Rosalie murmured back, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. "But we haven't really ever had time to talk about... a lot of my past."

Kiara continued to watch the scene unfold, her sharp gaze moving from Emmett to Rosalie, sensing the tension between them. She knew how important family was to Rosalie, and this revelation seemed to strike a nerve with the usually composed vampire.

She knew that Rosalie carried a burden of memories and emotions that she kept hidden, even from her. As the road stretched on ahead, Kiara reached out and gently took Rosalie's hand in hers, grounding her with a comforting touch.

Rosalie's icy exterior softened as she felt Kiara's warmth seep through her skin. She turned to look into those deep, understanding eyes that always seemed to see right through her walls. 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Rosalie whispered, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "We did... some things back then that I'm not proud of."

"It's okay, Rose," Kiara murmured gently, her eyes flickering to meet her imprint's gold ones. "We'll have time to talk about these things when you're ready."

Rosalie closed her eyes briefly, feeling an overwhelming surge of affection for the woman beside her. Emmett cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling the weight of the tension in the car. Beverly reached out, placing a hand on Rosalie's shoulder in a gesture of support.

"We left Carlisle because I needed some time away from the family... to sort things out," Rosalie began, her voice steady yet tinged with emotion. "I needed space to deal with the past and... make sense of everything. Emmett and Bev came with me. They didn't want me to deal with it all alone."

Kiara squeezed Rosalie's hand reassuringly, silently urging her to continue. 

"I mean, it was a crazy time. Garrett was... different than our family," Emmett stammered, trying to offer some explanation for their past actions. Kiara raised an eyebrow, but offered no response.

Beverly shot him a pointed look before turning her attention back to Rosalie and Kiara, motioning for Rosalie to continue without Emmett interrupting her this time. 

"Garrett... he had this way about him. He was reckless, bold in a way that both fascinated and terrified the three of us," Rosalie began, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and wariness. "We got caught up in his adventures, his hunting games that seemed to defy all reason... I never took part in the actual blood drinking of his games... but for a brief point in time... I enjoyed the chase."

Kiara listened intently, her gaze never leaving Rosalie's face. She could sense the turmoil brewing beneath Rosalie's calm exterior, the guilt and regret that weighed heavy on her heart.

"We were lost in our own ways," Rosalie admitted, her gaze fixed on the road ahead as memories stirred within her. "Carlisle had just admitted to turning me in the hopes I'd be Edward's mate... Beverly and Emmett didn't feel as attached to Carlisle as I had. But Garrett... well he was a great old friend of Carlisle and he offered us a different perspective... a temporary escape from the weight of our family's expectations."

Emmett remained silent, his gaze fixed on Rosalie with a mixture of remorse and understanding. Beverly reached out to grasp his hand, offering a silent vow of solidarity and love. Kiara listened, her thumb gently rubbing small circles on Rosalie's hand as a silent gesture of support. 

As Rosalie's voice trailed off, the car fell into a heavy silence, filled only with the sound of the engine humming and the tires rolling over the pavement. 

"We only ever... hunted the lowest of the low," Beverly continued, trying to justify their actions but noticing how Kiara shivered at the word 'hunted'. "Murders, abusers, rapists..."

"But as time passed, we realized that Garrett's ways were too dangerous, and we were turning into something we never wanted to be - monsters," Rosalie continued, knowing that Kiara knew that's exactly what Rosalie had spent her life viewing herself as. "We knew we had to make a choice... to stay with him and risk our own morals or return to the safety and stability of the Cullen coven."

Emmett flashed a reassuring smile at Rosalie, his eyes filled with unwavering support. Beverly intertwined her fingers with Rosalie's, a silent promise of love and solidarity.

Kiara squeezed Rosalie's hand once more, a silent affirmation of her pride in the woman beside her.

"We all have our pasts, Rose," Kiara said gently. "But what matters is where we are now... and where we're going. I'm glad you guys told me this now, rather than finding out from Garrett. Although, I can't say you're filling me with much excitement about meeting him..."

Rosalie couldn't help but crack a small smile at Kiara's last words, a mixture of relief and amusement washing over her. The tension that had gripped her heart seemed to loosen its hold as she glanced at the shapeshifter who had effortlessly accepted her and all of her flaws.

She turned her head slightly to capture Kiara's lips in a tender kiss, feeling a surge of gratitude and affection swell within her.

"Trust me, meeting Garrett is an experience in itself," Rosalie replied, a hint of amusement coloring her tone. "But I promise you, he won't be a problem. We left that life behind us long ago."

Beverly shot Rosalie a warm smile before turning to look out the window at the passing landscape, content in the knowledge that they were heading towards a new beginning.

____

"Dude, Kiara is going to go feral at this news..."

"Jacob Black, for once in your shitty little life can you shut the fuck up?"

"Leah, please don't swear in front of my daughter."

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I'm sure you can guess what the last snippet there is hinting at based on the context and the title of this chapter... ;) 

I also wanted to flesh out some backgrounds of the characters a little - and you cannot tell me that Rose, Emmett and Bev didn't have a rebellious phase after Carlisle literally told Rosalie her that his original hope for her after being turned was to be Edward's mate... ew...

Also can I just say, I had a look yesterday and across all of my books on here (yes, even those AWFUL first ones I've written), I've now hit 3.8million reads :) thank you guys!!!!

Like I said at the end of last chapter, I've rewritten and continuing my Taylor Swift fic, but I have no intention of rewriting my other previous fics so if you ever read them and think ??? please know that I started writing on Wattled when I was like 14 lol

Quick fire question: what's Rose and Kiara's ship name? Kosalie? Roara? Kisalie? Any better suggestions?