Sakura's POV
The moment I knocked, doubt threatened to overwhelm me. What if they didn't want me back? What if Rosalie had decided I wasn't worth the trouble? Months of living like a feral creature had stripped me of any confidence I once had. My clothes hung in tatters, streaked with dirt and blood. I hadn't seen my reflection, but I could feel the tangled mess of my hair and the grit embedded under my nails.
The door creaked open, and there she was—Rosalie.
Her golden eyes widened, shock and something else flaring across her face. We stood there in silence, the weight of everything unsaid stretching between us.
"Sakura?" Her voice was soft, barely a whisper.
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion.
For a moment, she didn't move, her hand hovering as if unsure whether to reach for me. But then her fingers brushed against mine, and the bond surged to life. A familiar warmth spread through me, washing away the chill of isolation. It was as though the time and distance between us had never existed.
"You're here," she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"I'm sorry," I managed to choke out, my voice hoarse. "I didn't know how to face you. I thought… I thought it was better if I stayed away."
Her brow furrowed, and I braced for anger, but instead, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. The sudden embrace knocked the air out of me—not that I needed it—but I clung to her like a lifeline.
"You're filthy," she muttered, though her voice was filled with relief rather than disdain. "But you're alive. That's all that matters."
A broken laugh escaped me, and tears I didn't know I could still cry spilled over. "I missed you."
She pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes. "Why did you leave?"
The question hit me like a punch to the gut. I stammered, trying to explain, "I was scared. After the battle, the Volturi showed up, and I thought they'd hunt me down if I stayed. I didn't know if you even wanted me to come back after everything…"
"You're an idiot," she said, though her tone was exasperated rather than angry. "Of course, I wanted you to come back. Do you have any idea how worried I've been?"
My chest ached at the raw emotion in her voice. "I thought of you every day," I confessed. "You're the reason I'm still here."
For a moment, her face softened, and she brushed a strand of my filthy hair back from my face.
"Come inside," she said, her voice gentler now. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Rosalie's POV
When I opened the door, I wasn't prepared for what I saw. Sakura looked like she'd been through hell—her clothes were in tatters, her hair matted, and her crimson eyes burned with guilt. Yet despite the grime and disheveled appearance, I could feel it—the bond between us, faint but unbroken.
"You're here," I whispered, not trusting my voice.
When I reached out to touch her, the connection flared to life, stronger than I expected after all this time. She apologized, stammering about being scared, about thinking I wouldn't want her back. I didn't know whether to laugh or yell. Didn't she realize what she meant to me?
"You're an idiot," I told her, trying to keep my voice steady. "Of course, I wanted you back."
She clung to me like a lifeline, her fragile voice admitting she thought of me every day.
I pulled her inside before the others could bombard her with questions. "You need a bath," I said, taking in the layers of dirt and blood caked onto her skin.
She let me lead her upstairs, and I helped her get settled. Once the door to the bathroom closed behind her, I leaned against the wall, exhaling shakily. She was back. After months of agony, of uncertainty, she was finally here.
Sakura's POV
The hot water scalded my skin, but I didn't care. It felt like I was washing away the months of loneliness and survival, stripping away the grime and blood to reveal… what? Myself? Someone new?
Rosalie's presence had already begun to steady me, grounding me in a way I hadn't realized I needed. As the water turned brown and swirled down the drain, I thought about the promise I'd made to myself.
I was going to stay.
No matter what came next, I wouldn't run again.
Rosalie's POV
When Sakura emerged from the bathroom, dressed in one of Esme's spare outfits, she looked… almost like herself again. Her hair was damp and clean, her skin pale but luminous, and her crimson eyes—though still a sharp contrast to the Cullens' gold—had softened.
I gestured for her to sit with me in the living room. The house was quiet, though I could feel the others' presence nearby, giving us space.
"Sakura," I began, unsure how to say everything I needed to. "A lot has happened since you left."
Her expression was wary, but she nodded.
I took a breath and started. "Bella and Edward are getting married in a week."
Her eyes widened. "Already?"
I nodded. "After the wedding, they're leaving for their honeymoon. That's when Bella will be turned."
Her brow furrowed. "Why wait?"
I shrugged, though the tension in my voice was unmistakable. "It's what they've decided. Bella's adamant about the order of things—marriage first, transformation after." I hesitated, then added, "The Volturi are watching closely. They've made it clear there can't be any delays."
Her hand tightened around mine. "And you? What about you?"
I hesitated, then admitted, "I've been waiting for you. Hoping you'd come back." My voice cracked despite my best efforts. "When you left, it felt like a piece of me was ripped away. I thought… I thought maybe I'd lost you for good."
Her eyes glistened, and she squeezed my hand. "You didn't lose me," she said softly. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere this time."
The bond between us flared again, stronger now, and I knew—despite the chaos of the world around us—that this was where she belonged.
Sakura's POV
I tightened my grip on Rosalie's hand, my conviction solidifying.
"I stayed away because I thought it was the right thing to do," I said quietly. "But I see now that it wasn't. I was running from my fears. From what I wanted most."
Her gaze softened, and I felt the bond between us strengthen.
"I'm here now," I told her. "Whatever happens next, I'll face it with you."
For the first time in months, I felt like I belonged.