Epilogue Part 2 - Merlot and Chardonnay

Cai POV

I walked out of the kitchen and made my way up the stairs. Looking into the guest bedroom, I noticed that the trunk of journals was gone. Destiny must have claimed them. The floor, on the other hand, was still littered with crumpled notes, foil wrappers, and empty water bottles. I walked across the hall into the bathroom to grab the garbage can and brought back into the room. As I picked up the trash, I continued to reminisce about my new family.

*Flashback*

About a week after my transformation, I was in the garden helping Esme plant some black magic roses when Nessie came out the back doors called my name.

"Cai! Come out front. Rose, Emmett, and I have something to show you."

Esme gave me a knowing smile, but I was at a loss as to what they would want to show me. Nonetheless, I stood up and brushed the dirt off my hands on to my 'discount' jeans. According to Alice, my old clothes were still acceptable when doing things such as gardening or hunting. Maybe I should just stay out in the garden.

As I entered the back door, the four year old pre-teen grabbed my hand and led me to the front door. I was starting to wonder if the women in this family didn't think I could find my way around on my own. I heard Edward chuckle from over by the piano as he picked up on my thoughts. Feeling childish, I blew him a raspberry on the way by.

Outside, Rosalie and Emmett were standing in front of the garage. Rose looked as beautiful and composed as ever and Emmett was grinning like a kid that knew he's done good as was expecting his just reward.

Sometimes I found it just a little hard to look at the two of them without seeing them bloody and ravage by the predators that had tried to kill them. I was glad that I had played a part in them standing here so beautiful and full of life. Well, sort of anyway.

Nessie still held on to my hand as I gave the couple a timid smile. "What's up guys?" I asked.

Rose opened her mouth to speak, but before she could even get a sound out Emmett shouted, "We got you a car!"

My timid smile turned into a full on grin. "Really."

Rose smacked Emmett upside the head before she returned my smile. "Really." She pushed the button on the small remote in her hand and the garage door lifted open.

Inside was any car enthusiast wet dream. A Koenigsegg CCX; 806hp with a 32-valve V8 engine. It's glossy black paint job gleamed in the dull lights and seemed to just be begging me to take her out and let her show me how she could do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and keep going all the way up to a staggering 245 mph.

For awhile all I could do was just stand there and gape at the $600,000+ beauty of Swedish engineering.

Rose came up and put her hand on my shoulder. "After everything you have done for us, I wanted to give you something to show you my appreciation. I'm not good with sentimentality, but I do know my cars, and this right here is about as good as it can possible get." Still rendered speechless, I stepped forward and ran my hand over the gently slopping hood. After another minute, I finally managed to get the words out. "You're definitely right Rose. Cars don't come much better than this."

Rose gave me a smile that showed me how pleased she was that I loved the car. Emmett suddenly came running up to me.

"There's something else," he said.

I felt my eyes grow wide. "What else could there possible be after that," I said pointing at the car.

"Well, we weren't really sure if you would want this yet," Emmett said, clearly a bit nervous. "But we got it for you anyways for whenever you're ready."

Emmett then walked to the back of the garage and lifted a tarp off of a MV Agusta F4 CC motorcycle. The black and red bike was beautiful, but not something I was quite ready for. Still, I walked over and gave Emmett a hug.

"Thanks Em," I said. "I look forward to taking her for a spin just as soon a I'm ready."

Stepping back, I looked over at Nessie who was admiring the car.

"Hey Nes," I called.

She looked at me with her big brown eyes like my next few words could make her year or completely crush her. Even if she was extremely mature for age, sometimes the dramatic tendencies of every teenager just couldn't stay hidden.

"Feel like going for a ride with me?" I asked.

And just like that, she was in the car. I gave Rose and Emmett a wave and slid into the driver seat.

About an hour later, I came whipping back into the driveway. As I spun the wheel while hitting the break, I kicked up an enormous cloud of dust. I was too late seeing Jasper, who was now covered in gravel and dust from the driveway. His shocked expression was just too much and both Nessie and I busted out laughing.

I shot him a sympathetic look and ease the car into the garage. Nessie came around and gave me a hug before she ran into the house.

When I walked out into the driveway Jasper was still brushing dirt out of his blond curls.

"Sorry about that Jasper," I said.

"No big deal," he replied. "Let's just call it revenge for me slamming you into that wall in New York."

I had to laugh at that. "Do you know how many times I had landed on my ass that day? Not to mention that wall was really gross."

Jasper had the good sense to look sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck.

After standing there awkwardly for a minute, I put my hands in my pockets and rocked back on my heels. "So…"

"So…" Jasper echoed. "Alice and I had a question for you."

"Shoot."

"Seeing as you had helped us get together, and since you missed the original wedding, we decided to have another one once we get to Maine. Traditionally, Alice would ask you this, but I really wanted to. Would you mind being the maid of honor?" He looked up from the driveway and into my eyes as he waited for my answer.

"I would be beyond honored, Jasper."

"Thank you."

He started to walk away and then turned around suddenly. "Can I ask you one more question?"

"You just did. But go ahead and ask me another one," I replied.

He just smiled and cast his eyes towards the garage.

I laughed as I tossed him the car keys and watched him run into the garage.

*End of Flashback*

I put the garbage can back in the bathroom and headed down the hall to the bedroom. Opening the closet, I pulled out my suitcase and set on the bed. I glanced around and then set about packing up the few items that could not be replaced and that meant the most to me.

There was the framed picture of me Sarah sitting in her living room in our pj's surrounded by pillows, pizza boxes, and a few empty brown bottles. I wrapped the delicate frame with the red and gray afghan my grandmother had made me a few years before she died.

Next went the ratted out old teddy bear that I had been given the day I was born, the small wooden box that contained my mother's locket and both my parents wedding rings, and the three photos albums that were tucked up on the shelf of my closet.

I went up to the attic to claim my mother's wedding dress and the engraved Drake family silver that I kept stored up there.

The last thing to go in the suitcase was the gray hoodie and star patterned gloves I had been wearing on the day that my life changed.

I picked up the suitcase and headed outside. Edward was leaning up against his Volvo and as I headed towards him he stepped forward and took the suitcase from my hand. Once it was loaded in to the truck, he turned to look back at me.

"Do you regret me changing you, Cai?" He asked.

I gave him a shocked look. "Of course not!" I almost yelled. When he looked a bit shocked, I reached out and wrapped my arms around him. He hugged me back and I told him what I was feeling.

"Sure, it's a little hard letting go to a few things, but I do not regret anything. You and the rest are my family. I believe with everything inside of me that this is where I am supposed to be." I stepped back and locked my eyes with his. "Don't you ever think that I regret what you did. And if you ever start that self-deprecating crap while I'm around, I will kick your sparkly ass from here straight back to the stone age. Got it?"

Edward wrapped his arms around my head and hugged it to his chest for a moment. "Got it."

As Edward got into his car he asked me if I was going to follow him right away.

"I'll be along in just a few minutes," I replied. Edward nodded and headed down the driveway.

I watched him leave and then headed back up the steps on to the porch. I laid down of the swing with my arms behind my head and one foot on the ground pushing gently. As I closed my eyes, I could have sworn I saw a flash of white blonde hair and Destiny giving me one of her knowing smirks.

I stayed there for about half and hour before I got up and headed down the wooden steps for the last time.

I didn't look back as I zipped up my leather jacket and swung one leg over the seat of my Agusta. The engine roared to life and I headed out down the driveway, leaving my past behind as heading out towards my new destiny.

EPOV

The stars glittered above me like thousands of diamonds as I stood on the dock looking out over Puget Sound. It wasn't long before I felt the presence I was waiting for come up behind me.

Destiny leaned over the rail next to me. Her hair almost blended in with the white of her dress. The wind blew gently, sending both billowing out in a way that gave her that ethereal quality none could match.

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice," she said.

"It's not a problem," I answered. I turned to look at her directly. "You said this was about Cai."

"It is." She looked in the direction of a small boat moored to another dock a ways down the beach. I followed the direction her pale green eyes had taken and noticed a man stepping off the boat and on to the pier.

Not a man, a vampire. He was about my height, but a bit fuller about the chest. He had probably been in his late twenties when he was changed. He had strong, symmetrical features and I noted that his eyes were a strange orange-ish hue indicating that he had at least been trying not to prey on humans.

"I think his hair kind of looks like the color of chardonnay," Destiny said.

I glanced at her and then back over to the vampire in question. His hair was shoulder length and a golden blonde color that did in fact resemble the color of the white wine.

Destiny spoke up again. "Merlot and chardonnay, I think they will look beautiful together."

She rested a hand on my shoulder and leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "We wouldn't want her to take your place as the odd one out, now would we?"

I shook my head no. "What do we do now?"

"We let destiny take it's course."

The end. No, I am not setting up for a sequel. I just wanted to establish that after Cai would not ending up all alone. She needs her smoochies, among other things. Thanks to all who stuck with me and please review.