Here's the epilogue. It's 962 words. The smallest chapter I have ever written, but I believe I covered all the loose ends. So, please, enjoy this chapter full of hope.

M.

Epilogue

BPOV

There was a time when I'd had everything I ever wanted. Everything I could never have dreamed of having. It was a cruel world that took it away from me. I was terribly bitter about it, and rightfully so. There was so much pain and heartache that could have been avoided. Or maybe, it couldn't have, but here I was today, a widow. And now, just over four years later, I was barely starting to pick up the pieces of my broken life.

Though I'd lost the family I had created I was really beginning to realize, now, that I still had a family here. They have always been here for me, and it was rough going for me to accept their love and support. After four years of feeling like a failure, and like you would do nothing but bring everybody else down with you it was hard to get over the fact.

Fact was, I had no more control over things than the next person. So, I'd make the effort to allow them back in. To open up my walls for them. We all had a lot of work ahead of us. Especially being that I am hardly the only one affected by the loss. They'd suffered, too. I wanted to repair my relationship with all of them. And already my relationship with Emmett was strengthening. Of course it helped that he was so easy going. He didn't dwell on the past, or even the endless possibilities for the future. He simply lived in the moment. It was his attitude on life that I gravitated towards most. I aspired to be more like him. Like my big brother.

Alice and I were still at a bit of odds with each other. I wasn't sure how to fix it, but I knew I would put as much effort as I could to do so.

The rest of the family I just needed to reconnect with. We'd all changed so much over the years that it would take us a while to get reacquainted with one another. It would be tough, I knew that. I also knew that there would come a time where I'd want to say fuck it. I resolved to not let that actually come true.

I was so terrified at what the future could possibly hold that at times I caught myself scaring myself into a panic.

But then Edward would come along and say or do something, as if he knew what I was thinking, and give me that tiniest bit of hope, that, in the end, everything would be okay. I still had my reservations though.

It has been nearly a year since the day Edward had asked me on that date. Throughout that time I have struggled constantly with moving on. It hasn't been easy on me, nor him. I warred with myself about the guilt I felt for giving another man who wasn't Jacob a shot at stealing my heart. And Edward, he only had so much patience, and he'd get frustrated at times with my trepidation to move forward. So then I'd feel so terrible for putting him through all my shit that I'd try to get him to leave me since I couldn't bare to do it myself.

But he seemed to always see through me, and I absolutely fucking hated that. It was extremely uncomfortable when someone could cut right through your armor and confront your very heart and soul. I was learning to accept it. Slowly.

From the backseat of the car came a bark. I turned in my seat on the passenger side to pet her, smiling at her everlasting enthusiasm. I don't know what I would have done without her had she not survived that day. Chelsea was my protector. My best friend because I knew that I could tell her absolutely anything and she wouldn't tell another soul. She was so attuned to my emotions that she could comfort me at a moments notice. I knew I could count on her no matter what, but I feared the day she was old and could no longer live in this world with me.

With Victoria dead and Laurent in prison I was free to move on from the past. But it was certainly no piece of cake. Over the years I had developed a fear of the future, and Jasper did the best he could to help me get over it, but it would take some time.

Edward had been pestering me for months to take him out to learn gun control, and for months I vehemently said no. I knew the power a gun held, and I was afraid of passing that information on to another person. But he'd made a valid point - what if it was life and death, as it had been nearly a year ago? I certainly couldn't say no after that. So here we were, pulling up to a mountain range far away from civilization.

As he and I set up the targets and pistols Chelsea ran around enjoying the open space. After explaining the mechanics of wielding a gun to him we put our ear plugs in and he took his first shot. Once he got comfortable with the varying pistols I had brought with us I'd teach him some disarms, too.

There was no way I could know what the future held, but I did know that my family and Edward would be there. And while I didn't love him yet, I certainly cared very deeply for the man. I thought that one day, maybe, I'd learn to love again.

I also hoped, that one day soon, I'd be able to awaken from this life I'd been living.

There it is; The End. The sequel is titled Awakening so be on the look out for it. The first chapter is already in the works.

I'm so sad to see this story end. It sure has been one hell of a ride. I just want to thank every single one of you who read this story from chapter 1 all the way to this epi. It's more than I ever even thought would happen. And I am so incredibly thankful for this experience. I especially want to thank everyone who reviewed, and especially those who reviewed almost every single chapter, even if all they said was 'good chapter.' It meant a lot to me. And will forever mean a lot to me. I hope to see reviews from all of you in the future, as I tackle the rest of Bella's life in Awakening.