25. EPILOGUE
June usually brings about a lot of change for us. It's when the school year ends; when Edward wraps things up with his students and prepares himself mentally to let them go in order to take on fresh ones the following September. It's also when our house becomes a busy hang out place for Ellie and her friends.
This year is no different. Ellie is now eighteen and all grown up. She's blossomed beautifully and I'm not afraid to let her go. She's intelligent and mature, ready to take on the world. College will be good for her.
As I watch her climb up onto the stage to pick up her diploma, my face breaks out into a huge grin as tears stream down my cheeks.
"Why are you crying, Momma?" Ella asks from her perch on her daddy's lap.
I soothe my finger down her chubby cheek, and smile when Edward's arm tightens around my shoulder, hugging me to his side. "Oh sweetie, these are happy tears, your sister is a big girl now. Today is a special day for her, remember?"
Gabriella was a surprise for us. Just when I thought menopause had started rearing her ugly head and had stopped the visits of Aunt Flo, it had turned out that I was pregnant. The surge of hormones in my body had rendered my daily pills kinda useless, resulting in our precious little Ella.
She nods her little head yes in response to me, and watches on ahead as other students walk up the stage and pick up their diplomas.
Edward's fingers play with the ends on my hair and I lean against him, enjoying his subtle touches. Telling him I was pregnant was difficult. We'd gotten used to life the way it was; easy, comfortable, routine.
We were happy, fulfilled, and at a place in our lives where we could pick up and leave on a moment's notice. Ellie was old enough to be trusted for a few days at a time alone at home, and we took advantage of it as often as we could.
But Edward's face as I told him about the pregnancy - that look of awe, want, surprise and ecstasy - it was worth every extra stretch mark and body ache, and even the long childbirth.
He loved Ella before we even knew she was a girl. I loved the fact that I could give him his own child and make him this happy. He says I gave him a gift he never knew he wanted.
It wasn't without difficulty on my part though. I was older, and my body certainly wasn't that of a twenty year old anymore, but I was happy.
In the back of my mind there was a lingering thought that something might happen to the baby growing inside me, until I hit the third trimester, but it was an easy pregnancy, so those thoughts were easily extinguished.
Of course, Alec and Kate weren't the happiest about the news. Alec's sadness showed through in his voice. The calls between him and Ellie weren't what they used to be as she chattered excitedly about being a big sister.
It was an asshole move on his part, but it wasn't something that was my fault, and I refused to feel bad about it. Kate was spiralling down in depression at the time so his home life was difficult. None of it excused his lack of participation in Ellie's life, but at least she had us.
At this point, Edward was acting more like a father to her than Alec was and I was thankful she had Edward's guidance and unconditional love.
Giving Ellie a younger sibling made her grow up in my eyes. It made me see her as she was - almost an adult.
Which makes today a lot easier to bear.
When the ceremony is over and we're all gathered at our new house, I realize how many people truly care for my daughter.
Esme and Carlisle are here, hugging her and congratulating her, while Ella clings to her grandmother's chest like a little koala bear. Esme announced last week that they were leaving for Europe at the end of the summer. The plan is to stay there for a few years in order to visit and thoroughly enjoy each country. They'll visit on major holidays, and of course with the internet, communication won't be lacking.
Ella doesn't quite understand yet, but seeing her cling to Esme the way she does, I'm sure she'll miss her. As we all will.
My mother-in-law is one of the most wonderful women I know.
When Edward asked me to marry him, Esme helped me plan things so that we'd have a small, private ceremony. I had no idea what to do, and Rose was adamant that a courthouse wedding was inappropriate. Truth be told, my wedding to Edward was the nicest one out of the two I've had, hands down.
We were outside at the country club surrounded by nature and our families. That was all I wanted and needed. Seeing Edward's face light up as I walked towards him was the most amazing sight, especially with the sun shining brightly above us and the sounds of nature surrounding us. It was heavenly.
When we found out we were expecting Ella, Esme and Carlisle moved here to be closer to us. Their presence, combined with my parents' involvement, gave me the opportunity to start my own business and get away from Newton's.
Ella spends time with both families. She's spoiled, but in a good way. She gets as many hugs and kisses as she wants. A kid can never get too many of those.
"Mom?" Ellie's voice brings me out of my thoughts.
I smile and put an arm around her shoulders. I can't believe she's already eighteen. "What's going on, sweetheart?"
"Nothing. Just... thanks... for this." She motions to the people meandering around, laughing, talking, and eating.
"It's no problem, honey. Are you having a good time?" I ask, smiling and then taking in her serious facial expression, I wonder what else is going on in her head.
She nods, biting her bottom lip, making me smile again. It's like looking in a mirror. One that makes you look about twenty years younger. "Yeah... I just... I broke it off with Mike," she confesses, her voice wavering slightly.
"Oh, baby, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Looking around, I notice Mike speaking to his parents, the three of them peering over at Ellie and me. I hope they leave soon.
"Yeah," she sniffs, "it's just, you know, he was my first... boyfriend. And I can't... I don't want to be tied down when I leave next fall. It's easier this way."
I hug her tightly and feel her take a few deep breaths. "I'm okay, really. I'm actually relieved." She giggles and I pull back to examine her face.
"You're sure?" I ask, searching her beautiful eyes, relieved that she's not breaking down at her own graduation party.
She nods and smiles, chewing her thumbnail. "Oh definitely. There's a cute guy that comes into the shop every Saturday. I may actually try to speak to him now."
Oh, to be young... I roll my eyes and shake my head, smiling.
Ellie works part-time at the bookstore downtown, and I can't say this is the first time I've heard of some guy walking in and piquing her interest. Mike wouldn't have been caught dead in a bookstore; he never once stopped by to see her at work. Maybe that should have been a sign that the two were never meant to be, but it wasn't my place to say anything. He was always fairly nice and respectful toward her, so there was never any reason for me to get in the middle of it.
"Alright, well, how about we cut that cake, huh?" Together, we walk over to the table where there is a cake and some gifts for her.
"Daddy?" Ellie squeals, as she runs toward Alec. He'd been at the graduation and I made it a point to invite him to this celebration. Kate's not with him, but I'm glad he made it. I'm also glad he's not staying for too long. He has to be back to work on Monday, which makes this trip very short for him.
Looking at the father-daughter duo makes my insides all wobbly. I can't remember the last time I saw Alec face-to-face with Ellie; it's been many years. I'm glad I'll get to see this again with Edward and Ella. Father-daughter relationships are the best.
Alec hasn't changed much, I guess. But I'm definitely no longer attracted to him.
I walk over to them and am joined by Edward. "Glad you could make it, Alec."
We hadn't done any introductions at the graduation as Alec's plane got in just in time for him to make it there. He hadn't been sitting with us, and I barely caught him in the parking lot to tell him to come here.
Communication was never our strong suit, unless it was about Ellie, and it's only gone downhill in the last few years between the two of us. Mainly since Ella's birth and all he's had to deal with regarding Kate.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart." He holds Ellie against him and hugs her tightly. "I wouldn't miss this for the world," he continues, nodding toward Edward and I in acknowledgement.
Ella wanders up to her father and tugs on his leg, asking to be picked up.
"I'm glad you're here," Ellie says, pulling back from their embrace. "Daddy, this is Ella." Ella giggles as Ellie picks her up, and wraps her over her hip. "Ella, this is my daddy. His name is Alec."
Ella tilts her head to the side in wonder, eyeing Alec carefully. She knows Edward is her daddy, but when Ellie addresses him as Edward, it confuses her a little, and once in a while she calls him Edward, mimicking her older sister. We figure she'll understand more as she grows up.
"Alik," Ella repeats. "It's like Auntie Alice, huh?"
Ellie laughs. "Yeah, kind of."
Ella addresses both Alice and Rose as aunties. It's sweet and she really doesn't know any better. Alice is a force to be reckoned with. Between her father's loud, boisterous nature and her mother's looks and charm, she's certainly grown up into a beautiful girl. She'll be graduating next year, and going off to college.
She and Jasper have big, elaborate plans. Hopefully they'll be able to make it all work for them. They're so sweet together. True love knows no age, I suppose.
Carlisle and Charlie's laughter catches Ella's attention and she hops off of Ellie's hip and runs toward her grandfathers.
"She's sweet," Alec admits, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "You guys are lucky," he continues quietly.
Edward, who's been silently observing this whole time, wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to his side. "She's great, and yes, we are very blessed." Smiling, he looks at me and over to Ella, then his gaze shifts to Ellie and back to my ex-husband before he continues, "It's nice of you to come, Alec."
The two men nod awkwardly, and Ellie eyes me curiously, making a face that makes me giggle. "Alright, well, how about we get some of that cake before it's all gone." Hopefully food will take some of the awkwardness away from this situation.
…
If anyone would have told me that someday, my current husband and ex-husband would be together talking and making jokes, I would not have believed them.
Looking on as Edward leans casually against the back of the house while Alec explains something, waving his hands around, making both men laugh out loud, makes my heart do flip-flops.
Not many men would be doing what Edward's doing right now - befriending the current wife's ex, but he's secure in his manhood and trusts me. It's the sexiest thing ever.
His eyes meet mine from across the yard, and his smile triples as he winks my way. My entire body flushes crimson. Hopefully when we're old and grey, he'll still have this effect on me.
…
"So, that went well." I sigh, taking off my shirt, leaving me in only a bra and underwear. Not even the sexy stuff.
Edward sits on the edge of the bed and takes off his socks. "Yeah. I'm so proud of her."
It's late, the guests are gone, the house is clean, and the kids are in bed. Well, Ella is in her bed while Ellie is at her friend's house. It's Saturday night, and I'm expecting a drunken phone call in about three hours asking for a ride home. We told her to be safe and warned her not to get into anyone's car. I may have been a wallflower throughout high school, but I've had my eyes open while raising a teenager, plus I did have Rose as a sister. She certainly wasn't a wallflower.
"You think she'll be okay tonight?" I take out a nightgown from my dresser, and make my way toward the ensuite bathroom.
Edward's eyes follow me, and he stands, joining me by the door, only wearing boxer-briefs. "She'll be fine, Bella." He leans in, his breath washing over me, heating up the skin behind my ear. "Now, how about Mommy and Daddy get some private time?"
Mouth open and eyes heavy, I lean into him, enjoying the heat from his body. My skin instantly prickles in anticipation, as my breath catches in my throat. "That sounds like a good plan," I breathe out, swallowing a moan as his lips brush against my collarbone and his fingers slide the bra straps down my arms. "Shower with me?"
He presses his nose into my hair and inhales greedily. "I wasn't letting you go in there alone, sweetheart."
I can feel him - hard as steel and warm all over - as he brushes up against me and drops a kiss to my temple, on his way toward the shower stall.
"Are you coming?" he asks suggestively, smirking when he sees me giggle and raise an eyebrow.
I shake my head and take a few steps inside the bathroom, discarding my bra and underwear on the way.
Running my hands down Edward's back while he's bent over, adjusting the water temperature, I take advantage and slip my hands in his underwear and slide them down his thighs. "I was hoping I'd get clean, not dirty, actually." My voice breaks when he turns around and quickly wraps his arms around me.
"What makes you think we weren't going to get clean?" He raises an eyebrow in challenge, his hard-on pressed up against my belly, making me squirm in anticipation.
"Because you always make me feel so dirty," I admit, peppering kisses to his chest and shoulder.
"I think it's you, Bella, who makes me want to do dirty things." He kisses me soundly, then pulls back, dropping wet, lingering kisses down my throat, all the way to my ear. "Now, how about I clean you so I can make you dirty again afterwards?"
And he does… thoroughly. He makes me feel good and dirty and tired and completely sated. And when I fall asleep after falling apart - once in the shower and once in our bed - he holds me close to him until the phone rings, waking us both, bringing us back to reality.
…
Ellie is clearly drunk and giggly when she walks in the door, held up by a smiling Edward. He tells me that she's been talking his ear off the entire way, making silly jokes and commenting on how fast the trees were flying by.
I guide her to her bedroom praying she doesn't throw up, where she face-plants right into her mattress, and falls asleep right away.
She's going to feel that in the morning, but she called us and trusted that we would be there for her. She's not going to get in trouble for this; it was her high school graduation party, after all. We knew it would happen, and while I don't like seeing her like this, at least she's safe.
Her friend's parents were there monitoring things and making sure nobody drove home drunk. They'd rather do it at their house while they're there and the kids be in a safe environment. As parents, some decisions are harder to make than others.
Ellie is a good kid, and I trust that she's responsible enough to make good decisions. Calling us, even drunk, is a good decision.
At around four, we're back in bed, tucked in together.
"Rite of passage, right?" I ask Edward as he pulls my back to his front, spooning me.
"Don't worry, babe, she's a good kid. We did well." His soft snores echo around the room as he drifts off to sleep.
And I'm stuck on the word "we." It makes me smile, and my heart clenches. We did do well. We're going to do well, no matter what.
We're together. We built a family. He's everything I never even knew I wanted, and more.
I drift back to sleep thinking that meeting Edward and letting him into my life are the best things I've ever done. With everything we've been through, he's certainly made my life less ordinary.
THE END
So this is the end...for now. I wrote an outtake in EPOV that was donated to the StandUp4Katalina. Please visit the site katalina . fandomcause . info for more details on how you can donate and make a difference. :o)
I have to thank some people for making this story what it's been. Midnight Cougar, Joey, Scrimmy, Bel...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for pre-reading, betaing, and kicking my ass into gear.
You guy...damn, what can I say...I've been a fail at review replies as I've stretched myself thin with writing, but good lord people, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! :oD
xox
Missy