Epilogue

Charlie POV

"Thanks for coming Chief Swan"

"Thanks for calling me. You said you have word about Bella?"

I had been trying to make contact again with Bells since she disappeared almost three years ago. After her horrible breakup with that boy, I was beside myself. I knew she was hurting so badly, but I could tell she was trying. She would still cook and clean. Her grades at school were good, but she was just empty. I hoped that after she went off to college she would experience enough of life that she would come back to us. Instead sending her off to was one of the worst decisions I ever made. Bella wanted to stay around Forks but I was contacted by her careers adviser four months out from graduation, letting me know that despite her good academic record, she still was yet to apply anywhere. Her knew of her circumstances and encouraged me to send in some applications on her behalf as there were a few places with deadlines open. I was so pleased the day her acceptance to Seattle University arrived, but when I told her, her face fell. "You want me to go?" She asked me in a small voice. "Of course I don't want you to leave Bells, but you deserve this. You need to go and experience life. You can't stay in Forks and do nothing with your life. Please Bells, go to college, go for me". She looked so beaten as she nodded her head in acceptance. "OK Dad. For you." That was one of the last conversations I had with her, the final one being when hugged me goodbye as she jumped in her truck, promising to contact me as soon as she could.

Other than an email once every 6 months with barely any information in it at all, I hadn't heard anything from Bella again. Renee and I didn't even know she had failed out of college until we received a call from her dorm supervisor asking us to collect her things. Bella had packed a bag, and left everything else behind. Billy asked some of the boys from the Rez came to help me pack everything up. I couldn't understand how she could simply disappear. I brought everything back and left it boxed up in her room, hoping that she would someday return for it all, if not for me. After I collected her things I called all the stations I knew, letting them know that if they ever come across anything to do with Bella, to call me immediately.

The officer returned with a plain black backpack in his hands. "This was found down by the Harbor, we think it belongs to Bella. It had her identification in it."

I took the bag and search through the contents. There was nothing and everything in there- a small blanket, clothing, a hairbrush, tooth brush, and a wallet. I knew the type of pack, she'd been sleeping rough, and by the condition of the bag and the clothes, I'd say she probably has been since she left university. "Oh Bells".

I opened the wallet. Her student ID, her old bank card from Forks, and one photo, from her graduation.

"I'm sorry, Chief. We search the nearby area, but there was no trace of her. No one has seen her either. We'll keep looking though."

I thanked the officer, taking her possessions home with me. I wanted to hope but I knew that if she gave up the last of her belongings that she was never coming back to me.

I drove back to Forks as slow as I could, reminiscing on a lifetime of memories of Bella.

EPOV

Family Christmas

This was the first year that we had gathered since we left Forks. Rose and Emmett were upstairs unpacking after their last jaunt around in Europe.

Alice and Jasper were placing presents under the tree, Carlisle and Esme embracing each other on the sofa. All their thoughts were focused on how content they were feeling now they their family back together again.

And they were right, to an extent. This was the closest it had felt to being normal again, but to there would always be someone missing. My Bella. I loved her, so much, and the hole in my chest proved it.

The only way I was coping with her absence was by imaging what she would be doing right now- perhaps she was sitting around a fireplace in her own home, maybe with a husband and children. I knew I could never look in on her; as soon as I did so the temptation would be too great, and I would return. But I could imagine it with such clarity it had to be true, she was such a good and beautiful person, that there was no way she deserved less than a long and happy human life.

"Merry Christmas, Edward." I turned toward Alice, who was looking at me with a sad smile. She and I were the ones who mourned her absence the most. She could always tell when I was thinking about my love.

"Merry Christmas, Alice."

In my mind I whispered, 'Merry Christmas, Bella, my absence was the best present I could give you.' And I felt good knowing that I had finally done a soul redeeming and noble deed. I gave her a future.