It's Been a Lifetime Waiting

“Sorry for taking so long. It hasn’t been easy to make this decision at all, but my final decision is...”

Veronica took a deep breath as she scanned everyone’s faces. She felt tears build up as she noticed Emmett wasn’t there.

“I’m leaving with the Volturi,” Veronica said firmly

The 7 Volturi members looked smug. Everyone else looked crestfallen.

“Excellent. We’ll give you an hour to pack,” Aro said cheerfully

“I have one condition. I don’t want that vampire Chelsea to break, weaken or alter any of the ties I have with anybody,” Veronica warned

“Of course,” Aro chuckled

Veronica nodded her thanks, heading back into the house. She knew she had people following her as she walked back up to her room, but she didn’t turn around, entering her room in silence.

“I’m sorry,” Alice said sadly

Veronica finally turned around. She was slightly surprised at the sight of Alice, Rosalie, Lucas, Jasper, Kate, Garrett, Embry, Quil and Esme in her room, but just nodded.

“I’ll need to borrow a suitcase or two. I only have my rucksack,” Veronica said quietly

“I’ve got a couple you can have,” Esme said softly

“Thanks,” Veronica said with a weak smile as Esme left the bedroom

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Jasper pleaded

“I think I do,” Veronica replied quietly

“You don’t. Just because Emmett is being a dickhe...”

“It’s not just because of Emmett,” Veronica interrupted Lucas, “although he was a major help in making my decision,”

“I’m going to miss you,” Alice whimpered

Veronica smiled sadly and opened her arms, letting the small vampire hug her. Everyone else joined in quickly, making Veronica giggle tearfully.

“I’m going to miss all of you so much. I’ll be back though, I promise,” Veronica said firmly

They all pulled out of the hug.

“Can you really promise that?” Kate pointed out

“Yes, I can. After all, they’ve got no chance of hurting me if I scream,” Veronica smirked

“Only you could be cocky about the Volturi,” Garrett chuckled

Esme returned with the two suitcases, smiling sadly at Veronica.

“Why don’t some of you help Edward, Bella, Carlisle, Renesmee, Jacob, Seth, Leah, Tanya, Carmen and Eleazar look for Emmett?” Esme asked so quietly that only the vampires could hear

Everyone but Embry and Alice nodded and left.

“Would you like some help packing?” Alice asked softly

“That would be great,” Veronica nodded, smiling at her two closest friends

[1 hour later]

Veronica stood in the doorway of her empty room with Embry and Alice, staring in sadness at how blank it was. But Veronica turned to her two friends and took a deep breath.

“Looks like this is it!” Veronica said as enthusiastically as she could

“I’ll go tell everyone you’re ready,” Alice smiled sadly

Veronica nodded, watching the pixie-haired vampire leave.

“If you ever want an escape from prying pixie eyes, you know who to call,” Embry winked

Veronica laughed, knowing exactly who and what he meant.

“Thanks, I’ll remember that,” Veronica smiled

She hugged him one last time, before leaving the room.

“Could you carry my bags down? There’s one last thing I need to do,” Veronica asked

“Sure thing,” Embry smiled

Veronica headed down the corridor to Emmett’s room and knocked on the door lightly. No answer. She turned the door handle and it opened, but there was no-one in the room. With a soft sigh, Veronica placed Jane and Alec’s mother’s brooch on his pillow, before leaving the room. She couldn’t believe she wasn’t going to get to say goodbye to Emmett. A forbidden tear trailed down her cheek, but she wiped it away. She was done crying over him. Veronica headed down the stairs, smiling at the sight of everyone but Edward, Bella and Emmett standing there, the Volturi waiting downstairs.

“I want to say thank you to all of you. You gave me a life that I didn’t know existed, and I’ll never forget that. I will be back, but I don’t know when. Thank you for being the family I never had,” Veronica announced warmly

She went round the group and hugged everyone goodbye, finishing with Alice.

“When are my brother’s kids due?” she whispered

Alice thought for a second, before smiling.

“April 14th, your birthday,” Alice replied

“Call Nick that day, yeah? It’ll soften the blow of my ‘death’ with that joy. I want him to hurt as little as possible,” Veronica said softly

Alice’s eyes widened, but she nodded. Veronica smiled gratefully, before walking outside. She took her rucksack from Jane and put it on her back. Felix held both her suitcases.

“Demitri will carry you,” Aro announced

Veronica nodded and climbed on the tracker’s back, him holding onto her knees tightly.

“This for the best,” Jane said quietly

“You’re with family now,” Alec added

Veronica forced a smile on her face.

“I know,” she replied

As the vampires started running, Veronica glanced one last time over her shoulder to see if Emmett had changed his mind. But as she saw no sign of the burly vampire, she sighed and turned back around, resting her head on Demitri’s, preparing for the long journey ahead.

*

[Rewind 30 seconds]

“Come on you dickhead, Roni’s leaving right now,” Edward growled

“I’m going as fast as I fucking can!” Emmett retorted

“It’s not fast enough! If you don’t say goodbye to Roni, you’ve lost her forever,” Bella said bluntly

Emmett pushed himself harder, passing Edward in his desperation to reach Veronica before she left with the Volturi. He hadn’t meant any of what he said earlier to her, but he knew if he didn’t turn up before she left then she would believe he was telling the truth. Emmett burst out of the forest by the Cullen house just as the Volturi ran into the forest.

“NO!” Emmett roared, skidding to a stop

Everyone turned his way, their anger fading to sympathy as he sank to his knees. Alice walked over to him, pulling his head to her stomach in a hug.

“I didn’t mean anything. I didn’t mean what I said,” Emmett whimpered

“I know, I know. But Roni will be back,” Alice soothed

“No she won’t. Not now I didn’t get to say goodbye,” Emmett choked, shaking his head

Alice sent a desperate glance at Jasper, who tried in vain to calm Emmett down. But there was no use. Emmett had lost the woman he loved, and there was no way he was going to heal this time. Silently, Emmett rose to his feet and walked into the house, ignoring everyone that tried to talk to him. He slammed and locked his bedroom door, wanting to just be alone. But when he saw Veronica’s brooch on his pillow, his world came crashing down. Emmett collapsed onto his bed, holding the brooch tightly in his fist, sobbing noises tearing from his throat even though he couldn’t cry.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.