Ok so the last of this story, and when I am done with other fan fics I am going to add another segment to this tale...

Epilogue

New home

We moved away from our distant family in Alaska shortly after my encounter with the Volturi. I never knew much about America. We moved to Chicago, where Edward was born in his human life.

Every so often, Alice would take me clothes shopping to invent a new look for me. I laughed while we imitated to wrap up warm against the chill that didn't bother us. Alice decided I needed a new hair style. I was nervous knowing it wouldn't grow back, but I just told myself to grin and bare it. We agreed to cut it all to just four inches under my shoulders. The vivid red colour seemed brighter to me, or maybe it was just my pale skin making it more eye popping.

Carlisle had taken a position at the local hospital. Edward told me that it was the same hospital where he was dying all those years ago. The thought made me shudder.

"So I got this pair of jeans… Alice told me to also buy this top to go with it…" I spoke quickly, showing Edward the new clothes. He nodded and smiled.

"I'm boring you aren't I?" I grinned, placing clothes in my new wardrobe. He laid out on the bed I wanted, even if I couldn't sleep in it.

"No." he insisted while watching me fold more shirts.

"I get carried away… I don't mean to spend so much. I blame Alice!" I placed the last of the clothes away.

"Then Alice is to blame." He kept watching me.

I laughed lightly getting on the bed beside him.

"Big party tonight…" I said casually. I started to watch Edward's flawless angel face.

"Yeah… Another year gone…" he spoke softly. I laughed thinking of the year that had gone by so quickly.

"Alice is going way over the top with this." I said, running a finger up and down his arm lightly. My eyes flickered from my flowing fingers, to Edward's eyes, which were watching me still.

"It's your first year as a vampire, so bring on the party hats!"

I laughed, rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. Just the thought of a party for me made my mind lapse into a string on reveries. If my human life had continued I would be getting ready for my eighteenth birthday. I pictured the breakfast made, Michael being a brat about everything – as usual. I could imagine all my family members there to see me. The one time in the year that we would all get together. They would wish me happy birthday, and give me gifts that I'd have no real use for…

"I can give you a present you have a use for." Edward muttered, still watching my face.

"You know that's cheating." I replied, poking him in the ribs and getting quickly to my feet. The fast flowing movements were beginning to feel natural now after a year of practice.

"Oh, Mel, I'm sorry..." Edward moaned playfully. He was quickly by my side, wrapping his arms around me. My face cracked into a smile.

"You know for a mind reader, you can easily be fooled…" I laughed lightly.

"Now who's cheating?" He watched my face carefully. I couldn't help but laugh more.

His eyes burned into mine. After a year of nothing but animal blood, my eyes still hadn't turned topaz. They were now a soft orange. I lightly kissed the tip of his nose and hugged into his chest.

"We both cheat." I raised an eyebrow. I felt his grip tighten a little around me. I looked up; finding his lips as he slowly touched them to mine. My fingers worked into his hair pulling my face closer to his.

I rolled onto my side, looking to Edward as he lay perfectly on the bed; it was a mess on the floor. I giggled trying to think how all of this started.

"I think you should give up on having a bed!" Edward said smoothly, rubbing a hand up my arm, as I studied the damage.

"You do know that the party is in ten minutes!" Alice's voice was harsh through the door. Edward laughed lightly brushing his hand through my hair. I could swear I could hear Emmett laughing from another room.

I dressed in a sleek purple lace number which Alice had picked out for me. I studied each part of me carefully. Edward stood behind me, smiling gently. He touched my waist and stood closer to me.

"I just can't believe this." I spoke feeling his hands gliding over the dress, and resting a chin on my shoulder.

"I won't ever let you go; I don't want you worrying about anything." His velvet voice drifted over me, and I felt calmed by his touch.

"Yeah, I guess this isn't that bad…" I spun quickly, facing him now. My smile made his face light up.

"Come on! Party time!" Alice called again. I pulled back to look at Edward. He was dressed in a pair of designer jeans and a blue button up shirt. I bit my lip as my gaze slowly returned to his stunning face.

"Yay… Party time…" I muttered. I run my hand through his flyaway hair and smiled again.

"Surprise!"

The Cullen's were all standing in the bright living room. They all cheered as Edward and I walked in. I jumped with a small scream and stared at Edward. Alice had really outdone herself. The decorations were everywhere! She danced towards me with a smile, and a playful hiss at Edward. I couldn't hold in my own giggle.

"I swear you two are getting worse than Emmett and Rosalie." Alice added, and Emmett laughed.

"Yeah like that can happen." His voice boomed, and Rose's eyes widened. She smacked his arm making a loud cracking noise which ran through the whole house.

The party wasn't much, but I loved my new family so much that it didn't bother me. I received presents I didn't deserve or expect from Carlisle and Esme. I kept telling them they shouldn't have seeing as they had done so much for me.

Alice bought me more clothes to go in my already huge closet. I couldn't help but laugh at all the ridiculous tops and dresses she handed to me. Jasper gave me a laptop. If I could I would have blushed. I felt lost.

"Just because you can't really publish a book, don't let that stop you." He winked, as I run my fingers over the smooth cover.

I walked out into the back yard to watch the sun set. I figured that I had a million of them to see, and possibly more. I thought of the last time I slept. My last human memories and all the things happened over a year ago. Maybe this was where I was meant to be, and my life was supposed to turn out this way.

Edward joined me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I looked at his hands for a second. All my thoughts, that I knew he could hear, made me glad not to repeat them.

"I just can't help but feel, something is going to happen. A war is coming soon." I kept my focus on the faded sun. "I can taste it." I added feeling his hand squeezing mine.

"We'll be ready no matter what." Edward sighed. He kissed my cheek softly, and then rested his head on my shoulder. Together we watched the sky.

The things to come would come, but I had the Cullen's. I was going to do what I could to help protect our way of life.