Hi! I'm finally posting the Epilogue so I hope you enjoy the very last chapter. :D
*** Epilogue ***
Bella screeched in utter pain and her body trembled from exhaustion. She'd been in the same spot and position for hours now and she wanted to just get this over with. All Bella knew was that she was going to murder Edward when she could move again.
"Are you sure this is normal?" Edward asked as he tried to hide his cringe, his wife was squeezing his hand so hard that he was sure when she let go the bones would be shattered. Shoving that thought away he let her continue if only to alleviate some of her hurt.
The midwife, whose name was Renata, smiled at him in amusement as she calmly moved around the room. Occasionally sending an assistant to fetch more water or another fresh bed cloth.
Bella had gone into labour the previous night and had been in agony ever since and it irked him that despite being King he had no control over the following matters. He wanted his child out, healthy and strong, but he wished that it didn't cause his wife so much agony.
He felt the tremors of her small body first before she cried out again and squeezed his hands impossibly harder; he'd placed himself behind her so that her back was braced against his chest, giving her rest and leverage.
"My love, it will be over soon…isn't that right Renata?"
"Yes my King, do not worry so much. It is the way of life unfortunately, but the Queen and the child are just fine."
"How can you be so calm and certain?" He asked incredulously as Bella screamed once more. Her body curling in on itself as much as her large stomach would allow.
"My King, I have birthed many a babe…'tis my job." She said jubilantly as she came to a stop right in front of Bella's trembling legs.
Three hours later another cry replaced Bella's.
This one tiny and constant.
Edward made sure that Bella was comfortably resting against him as Renata placed their baby girl in her arms for the first time. The rest of the room faded away as he stared down at the tiny eyes that blinked from the brightness of the world.
"She's beautiful." Bella sighed. "And look Edward, she already has your hair." She tiredly laughed, gently caressing the light coloured tuft atop her tiny round head.
"Indeed she does…but I believe she has inherited the Swan family eyes." The little bundle started squirming at the sound of her father's rumbling voice. Small hands and fingers curling and uncurling as they reached into the air and little gurgles burst forth.
"I couldn't be happier my love." He mumbled into Bella's dark curls. "Thank you my stunning wife."
"I should thank you Edward, it wasn't too long before I met you that I was thinking of how empty my life was. Now I have more family than I can handle." She quietly laughed and Edward joined her.
She was right of course.
A year prior and several months after his coronation both of their parents and Marie, along with her young charge Michael, had made the move to Grecian homes that were built alongside the palace. Even his sister with her new husband had found their home there, Jasper fitting in surprisingly well as second-in-command of the elite guard of Grecia; Charles having happily accepted the position as commander once more. With blessings from Garrett of course.
Katelyn had returned to Romena and her husband – under Emmett, Rosalie and the Nine's protection – and both empires were now considered allies instead of the enemies they once were. The truce had also allowed the Barbarians relief as well and their newest king had vowed they would keep their distance as long as the Grecians and Romenian's did as well.
There was only a tiny black spot in their happiness and that was Laurent. After the fighting had ceased they'd realised that he wasn't one of the fallen or the captured. In fact he was not seen at all after securing Bella in her cell. Edward had hoped that he had simply ran away, from what Bella and Jasper had described of him however, he knew that it wasn't so.
If Laurent returned it wouldn't be for anything good.
"Your Queen is now presentable for visitors my King, shall I escort them in?" Renata asked and Edward knew about the fairly large group of worried and excited family and friends that awaited outside. After getting Bella's approval he nodded for Renata to do so and she left with the other maids right behind her.
"You know our precious girl will be crying in minutes after she is passed from arm to arm?" Edward asked sardonically, his relatives and Bella's were quite the mix.
"I believe you are correct in your guess but our girl needs to learn of the feelings that come from the love of a family." Not once did she take her eyes from their daughter and Edward already knew she would be a mother any child would be lucky to have.
"And she will…" he said unsure of how to bring up his next question.
"I know you want to ask something so just ask…I believe I once said that you would never be rid of me and it still holds true no matter what you say." He kissed Bella's forehead and smothered his laughter against her soft skin.
"Clever girl…I wished to ask if you were still happy with the name. I would like to have it arranged when everyone asks."
"Of course. I think it's a wonderful name and I feel it suits our baby girl. After all, she will grow to become as wise and beautiful as her namesakes were."
From the first day they'd found out Bella was with child, Edward had already had a name picked if it was to be a girl. Bella had agreed wholeheartedly and when their family eventually made their way in and asked for her name he proudly answered.
"I present to you all our beloved Elizbeth Renee."
Charles was the first to hold the little pink child, Bella and Edward hiding their laughter as his trimmed beard quivered when he tried to halt his awed tears. He cleared his throat several times much to everyone's amusement before speaking in an emotionally gruff voice.
"It's the perfect name BeBe…she is stunning."
Huffing out a shaky breath when Elizbeth curled her tiny fingers around one of his much bigger ones. She had already wrapped him around her tiny little pinkie and Edward discerned that she would be one spoilt little princess. Especially from the looks Esme and Carlisle couldn't contain.
Edward figured he'd have to try to at least curb the grandparents' bad habits at some stage. For that moment in time though, as his baby girl was passed around – eventually crying as predicted – he figured he'd enjoy his blessings from the gods. Hugging Bella closer he simply sat and enjoyed the joyous atmosphere.
"I love you Edward." Bella whispered on a breath and he kissed her soft lips before replying.
"And I you."
***The End***
AN: I want to say a massive thank you for all those who read, commented and gave me feedback once again! I'm sad and kind of lost now that it's finished but I do have several stories in progress so hopefully they will distract me lol.
I'm thinking of maybe doing a sequel but I'm not sure when I'll be posting it, I've come up with a detailed summary but not much else at the moment.
I hope you have a fantastic week!
Bye for now lovelies! :D
