Epilogue

BPOV

Alice came bursting through the hospital doors, a slightly panicked yet excited look on her face. Jasper was right on her heals carrying a huge teddy bear and the biggest Mylar pacifier balloon I had ever seen, with congratulations written across it in large letters.

"We got here as quickly as we could," Alice breathed heavily as she danced over to me and gently hugged me as I winced at the pain the movement had caused. Then she ran over and gave my exhausted husband a kiss on the cheek and trying to get a peek at the sweet baby bundled in a pink blanket in his arms.

"So this is our little princess?" Alice sang as she bounced on her heals and clapped her hands lightly. Edward pulled his tired eyes away from our sleeping daughter and smiled at his sister.

"Are you trying to wake her up Alice, because you just succeeded?" He teased. Alice's bouncing increased.

"I want to hold her. Please, Edward, give her up." She held out her hands and Edward frowned slightly, looking back down at his daughter.

"Only for a minute because her mommy is supposed to be resting right now." I frowned at Edward for being so rude to his sister. He gave me a pointed look to not argue with him, so I didn't. After twelve hours of labor I was exhausted and he was right I should get some sleep before it's time to feed our little angel again.

Alice looked like someone popped her balloon. The signature pout was starting to emerge before Jasper wrapped his arms around his disappointed girlfriend. He whispered softly in her ear and she instantly brightened.

Edward stood up carefully and placed Alice's niece in her arms. Alice instantly stopped bouncing, a calm look came over her face and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at me and then at Edward.

"She's got your eyes," Alice said to Edward quietly. I looked at my handsome husband and saw his chest puff out a little more with pride as Alice stroked her cheek softly.

I caught Edward looking longingly at the pink bundle of blankets before he spoke.

"You've got five minutes before I throw you out." I shot another glare at him. He just shrugged, sat down and then laid his head back on the chair and closed his eyes. He had been the best cheerleader I could have had for the most painful time of my life. I shuddered slightly at the remembrance, everyone says that you forget the pain by the time you're ready to have the next child, but I don't think that will ever be possible for me.

Moments later a burst of energy that rivaled Alice's came running through the door. Esme's cheeks were flushed and her hair was slightly askew, which was a huge change from her usual perfectly polished appearance. When she spotted the pink blanket a small squeal came from her lips.

Edward groaned and started to protest, but I shushed him before he could get out his displeasure at having a room full of family.

"It's a girl!" Esme ran over to Alice and peeked over her shoulder. Tears were flowing down her cheek before she spoke.

"She's beautiful, Bella," she cried as she held out her hands for Alice to hand her over. A small pout formed on Alice's lip but she reluctantly gave my baby to her mother. Carlisle soon came through the door.

"She made me drop her off and then park because she couldn't wait. I can see that she wasted no time," he said with a small chuckle.

"Hush!" Esme scolded and then turned her attention back to the baby. Carlisle came over and shook Edward's hand and pulled him in for a hug. Then came over to me and kissed my cheek gently.

"How are you doing, my dear?"

"I'm fantastic." I smiled as he made his way over to see his first grandchild.

I looked up at my sister-in-law to see her rummaging through the huge Gucci handbag that she had brought with her. She pulled out the Post and right on the front page was a picture of Edward and I being admitted into the hospital. I groaned out loud and Edward shot to my bedside, my hand grasped firmly in his.

"What is it? Are you in pain? Do you want me to call the doctor?" I smiled at how much he worried about me.

"Relax." I pointed at the offending paper that Alice had in her hand. When Edward saw it he let out the same groan that I had just emitted.

"I don't even want to know what it says," he told Alice vehemently, glaring at her.

"Too bad. I'm going to read it to you anyway," she said with a slightly evil smirk on her face. She loved to torment Edward as much as she could, especially in front of Esme. I had to smile to myself at the sibling rivalry between these two. I never understood it because I was an only child, but watching it between Edward and Alice was quite amusing. I waved my hand at her.

"Well, read it," I said as it was Edward's turn to glare at me. I smiled at him sweetly and I watched his annoyance dissolve. I could probably crash his precious Vanquish right now and he'd still give me that smile. It's amazing what excruciating pain will let you get away with.

Alice smiled widely at me as she opened the paper. "Cullen dynasty to continue," Alice stated dramatically as she read the headline. Edward rolled his eyes as she went on.

"Edward and Isabella Cullen were recently seen being admitted to St. Vincent's midtown Hospital for the birth of their first child. New York's Beauty aka Bella Cullen…"

Alice paused and then winked at me. I flushed slightly at the nickname the tabloids had given me. Unfortunately, Edward had lost the title of Playboy Cullen and was now know as The Beast, which thrilled Alice to no end.

"…was said to be doing well. However, The Beast has struck again. The Posts own cameraman, Stephen Peters, was assaulted standing outside the hospital admittance room by none other than Edward Cullen." Esme gasped as Alice lowered the paper and giggled at Edward. Edward grasped the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger in an agitated display.

"Tell me you didn't punch another reporter," Esme said with a disappointed tone.

"Really, Edward? Have you no restraint?" Alice teased. He clenched his jaw and glared at his sister.

"He deserved it," he growled. "He wouldn't get out of the way and Bella was in pain. I had no choice." Esme frowned at him but then turned her attention back to the baby in her arms. Alice clicked her tongue before turning back to the article.

"Mr. Peters will not be pressing charges, opting instead to wish the happy couple congratulations." Alice scanned over the article and then looked up with a frown.

"There's more in here about Mike and James, do you want to hear it?" she asked as Edward shook his head no and I nodded yes. Edward looked over at me with pleading eyes.

"You need to get some sleep, please let me throw my family out," he begged.

"In just a minute, I want to hear what they have to say." He motioned for Alice to hurry up.

"Make it quick," he growled again.

"Our beloved Beauty has had quite the ordeal over the last month, where she testified in two different cases. Mike Newton was recently convicted of sexual assault, battery and assault with a deadly weapon of his girlfriend where our beloved heroine saved her from certain death."

My eyebrows rose at the statement. "That's not really what happened." I said, but Edward let out a fierce growl and shook his head.

"You attract more trouble than anyone I know," he said, slightly miffed that he wasn't there to deal with Mike. I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Go on, Alice."

"James Johnson was extradited from Switzerland after Pacific Northwest Trust threatened to pull all operations out of the country. He was sentenced in the assault and attempted sexual assault of Isabella Cullen. He now is awaiting trial for six other sexual assault cases, if convicted the charges will land him in prison for the rest of his life." Alice snapped the paper closed and then threw it in the garbage.

"I'm ready to hold my niece again," Alice chimed excitedly, completely forgetting about the drama that was written in the Post and walking towards her mother. Esme kissed our baby on the forehead and started to hand her over to Alice when Edward interceded.

"It's time for Bella to rest," he announced as he tried to usher everyone out the door. Esme came back towards me and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you for the beautiful grandchild. We love you." She squeezed my shoulder gently as I whispered my love for her and Carlisle. Edward handed me our sweet baby girl as he walked his family out the door.

I stared at the door for several minutes after they had left. My mind wandered to my participation in the trials. I had helped put two very dangerous men behind bars for a long time. I no longer felt like I needed to look over my shoulder and now we were starting fresh. Edward, me and our baby girl. I looked down as she stared quietly at my face. I couldn't help but smile at the depth of love she brought to our lives.

Edward and I had found out that I was pregnant a month after the casino night fundraiser. We shouldn't have been shocked since birth control was never even considered by either of us. He was thrilled from the second we found out and his enthusiasm eventually rubbed off on me.

We flew my family to New York where we were married in a small ceremony. Nothing extravagant. Just a quiet event with the people that we loved.

Edward walked in a few minutes later and came to sit on the edge of my bed. His permanent smile fully fixed on his face.

"Hello, Mommy," he whispered as he gently pulled the blanket back to see his new obsession, and then he kissed her head softly. His eyes moved from the new love of his life to mine. Happiness radiated off of him as he bent down and kissed my lips gently. I couldn't love him any more than I did at that moment.

"What do you want to name her?" he asked me softly. I smiled and looked down at the beautiful girl in my arms.

"She's the princess in our little fairytale so I was thinking of Elizabeth. It's a very regal name." Edward smiled gently at me and then looked prideful at his daughter.

"What about a middle name?" he asked.

"I don't know. How about since I picked the first name you pick her middle name." Edward looked at our little Elizabeth for a few moments and then smiled widely.

"How about Grace? Since we're sticking with the fairytale theme. After Grace Kelly the Princess of Monaco. Her life was a bit of a fairytale, too." He rubbed his finger over Elizabeth's cheek and smiled when her eyes met his.

I giggled and he looked at me questioningly. "Don't you like it?" He asked as I laughed out loud before composing myself enough to tell him what I had been thinking.

"No, no. I love it. I was just thinking that since she was my daughter we should name her Grace because it'll probably be the only way she'll have any." Edward barked out a loud laugh startling Elizabeth at the abrupt noise. A little whimper escaped her mouth as Edward picked her up to soothe her fear. She quieted down quickly as he hummed a soft lullaby.

"Princess Elizabeth Grace it is then." He whispered as he brushed his lips over the top of her head.

I couldn't help but think that the Knight was now the King of both of our hearts.

Thanks for reading!