A/N: This is where you may feel you've missed something if you haven't read my earlier story, "Hobo Trail." So if you have not yet done so, I would suggest going back and reading at least the first and last "untitled" chapters before continuing on with this epilogue, which picks up right where "Hobo Trail" left off. Barbie

Epilogue

Carlisle

Esme and I both drew a deep breath as we neared the house, not fully believing Edward was back until we tasted his scent in the air.

The door was unlocked, and as I pushed it open, I saw him. He stood stock still at the back of the room, his golden eyes fixed on our entrance.

With a small cry, Esme pushed past me and ran to throw herself on Edward. After a moment his arms came around her, tentatively at first, then with a son's gentle embrace as Esme clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

If I didn't know better, I'd be jealous, Edward, I tossed at him, my teasing an attempt to cover my own emotion. The next instant, I had crossed the room and had both of them wrapped in my arms. "We missed you, Edward," I whispered.

Edward swallowed. "I…thought…you would have disowned me."

I tightened my grip fiercely. "Never, Edward. You are my son; nothing in heaven or earth can ever change that."

When the first joy of reunion had faded slightly, Edward told us how Shady's love had made him see the error of his thinking and eventually had led him home.

He smiled crookedly. "And then I found your letter."

"Carlisle was sure you would come back," Esme whispered.

Edward said nothing, but got up to put an arm around her shoulders. She reached up to clasp his hand with her own. "Edward…" she said after several moments, "I've missed…hearing you play."

Edward smiled. "Carlisle, help me carry the piano down here."

I instantly got up to follow him to his old room. Though the piano wasn't too heavy for either of us to have managed alone, it was better for the instrument to carry it supported at each end. Esme flitted up behind us to carry down the piano bench.

I could tell as soon as Edward ran his hand over the keys that he had already been playing before Esme and I arrived; they were in perfect tune. Without hesitation, he began a piece that was unfamiliar to me.

"Shady's song?" Esme asked softly.

Edward nodded without speaking.

Esme curled against my side on the sofa as Edward played for us the rest of the night.

oOo

Shortly after Edward's return, we made arrangements to move; I could no longer live publicly in St Paul without raising suspicions about my age. I had obtained a position at another hospital, while Edward had expressed a desire to attend medical school. He had always enjoyed reading medical journals through my mind, but now he felt that learning by "osmosis" hadn't been enough; that if he had studied medicine firsthand, he might have been able to save Shady.

I couldn't argue that she might still be alive had Edward taken her to a doctor sooner, but I saw no reason for him to take the blame on himself; he had done all any human would have done.

And he even felt responsible for her death on a deeper level; felt that if he had never turned vigilante Shady would still be alive today. I had reminded him that Shady's uncle died of alcohol poisoning, not at his hand, and Shady had been ill already; his absence would have changed nothing. Indeed, his presence brought Shady comfort at the end, and who could fault him for that?

But somehow the guilt for all the humans he had killed had coalesced into guilt over the one human he hadn't touched, and he would blame himself for her death for all eternity.

Our family was whole again, but I did not feel it was complete. I wanted Edward to have what I had found in Esme…the unconditional love of a mate. Perhaps she would be able to convince him he was innocent of Shady's blood, as Esme could always help me believe a patient's death hadn't been my fault.

Esme was so perfect for me, it made me reconsider whether I believed in destiny. Somewhere I had to believe Edward also had his perfect match. Perhaps she was even waiting for him in Rochester…

The End

A/N: And then Carlisle tries to force destiny by changing Rosalie… By the way, I accidentally changed the dates of Rosalie's and Emmett's changes. I remembered Rosalie's change as being 1935, and by the time I found out that was wrong, I had this story and "Hobo Trail" thought out and couldn't change the dates. But I decided it didn't really matter within two years when they were changed. Barbie

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have internet access only once a week, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. If you have questions regarding my Twilight alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. (I also have a chronological list of my stories, so you can see where they fall on my timeline.) Thanks for your understanding! Barbie