FUTURE and PAST

When dinner was over, Edward went to purchase another paper for his father, then swiftly went upstairs to his room, closing the door behind him. During dinner he had complained to his parents that he had a lot of complicated homework tonight, so he would need to spend the rest of the evening in his room. This would give him plenty of uninterrupted time to read the letters.

Now, closed in his bedroom, he went to his desk, and turned on his desk lamp. He then pulled the letters out of his pocket, and placed them on the desktop. He decided to start with the one that Carlisle had written to him.

Dear Edward,

Hello, my son. I know that your trip back to 1917 was successful. As soon as you and Bella vanished, we were surprised to see Rose and Emmett disappear as well. Even more surprising, we discovered Bella standing in the street outside. She was a vampire, still appearing to be 19 years old. You were there as well - human, sitting in a wheelchair, a very old man.

Let me assure you that Bella still loved you just as much as ever. She had survived almost a century as your constant companion. It was beautiful to see...

Edward was moved to tears, and reached up to cover his face with both hands. "My darling Bella..." he wept. Gathering strength, he continued reading Carlisle's letter, learning all about the life he and Bella lived from 1917 through the rest of the 20th century. He also learned how he was able to help Carlisle deal with the Spanish Flu, and how he and Bella made friends with Rosalie and Emmett, introducing them to each other. He enjoyed the story so much...sometimes laughing, other times shedding more tears.

When he finished Carlisle's letter, he decided to read his letter from Alice.

Edward,

I miss you so much! I guess you've already read Carlisle's letter, so you know all about how you and Bella spent a century together, with her as a vampire and you as a human. Talk about irony! Oh my gosh! You guys just can't get a break, can you? Did Carlisle tell you that you were Bella'sla tua cantante? UN-FREAKIN'-BELIEVABLE!

Of course, when Carlisle found this out, he just HAD to do some blood tests on you. He spent about a week in his lab, comparing your tests to the ones he had run on Bella's blood back when James bit her. He was freaking out! He said that absolutely everything about you guys matched exactly...almost like you were twins separated at birth, or something. Weird!

Anyway, I wanted to come back in time with Carlisle, so that maybe I could get some kind of visions about the future for you and Bella. We really wanted to do all we could to prevent Bella becoming a vampire. This could possibly open up some new options for you both. But, we had to come back to such an earlier time: 1867. So, my visions were very vague and hard to make out. But, I do see some kids and grandkids there. I hope I get to meet them when I go back to the future again! I will make an AWESOME aunt!

I love you, big brother!

Alice

P.S. I've made some drawings of you and Bella, so you can see what you will look like as you get older. Bella had a great photo album for us to look at when we visited your house in Chicago. Enjoy! :)

Edward was enthralled, seeing the drawings. There were 20 drawings in total. Alice's vampire memory had helped her to retain the images from the future. Bella remained a beautiful 19 year old, and he gradually aged through his 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, etc. Now, Edward was really looking forward to seeing Bella age together with him. He couldn't wait to see how she matured.

Next, Edward read his letter from Plessario. Salvador apologized for not being there to greet Edward and Bella when they went back to 1917. He said that his records were off by one day, when calculating their entry to his preset time pockets. This explained why they had arrived in an empty room. It also helped him understand how Bella transformed into a vampire when they originally came back. He must have not been able to find Carlisle in time to help her. It really had been a tragedy.

Now, Edward was so hopeful for their future, and felt empowered to make their lives happy and fulfilling. Because of the help of their friends, Carlisle was there to prevent Bella's transformation. Bella and Edward were so blessed now, able to grow and live as humans. And according to Alice, they would have children and grandchildren! Fate was on their side this time.

He decided to save the other letters for tomorrow. He was getting drowsy now. So, he placed all the letters under his mattress, changed into pajamas, turned out the lamp, and went to sleep, dreaming of their future.

Edward woke the following morning, feeling refreshed and energized. He took a bath, got dressed for school, then retrieved the letters from under his mattress. He placed them in the inner pocket of his jacket, then went downstairs for breakfast.

His father greeted him at the table, "Edward, I've got some tickets to see the White Sox game this Saturday. You are welcome to bring a friend. Perhaps you could invite the young lady your mother told me about?"

Edward's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Thank you very much, Father! I think I'll take you up on that recommendation." Edward smiled, looking forward to having a fun date with Bella.

His father continued, "Well, I saw your school teacher yesterday at Chicago City Hall. She said that your work has improved greatly this week. I wanted to reward you for your efforts."

"Thank you very much, sir," Edward replied. His father nodded, "Hard work is always rewarded, Edward. Never forget that. I'm looking forward to meeting Miss Cullen. If you need any advice on courtship, my son, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Yes sir. I appreciate that," Edward thanked his father. They finished their breakfast, then Edward left for school. He was glad to see that there was more to his father than just a strict disciplinarian. He walked to school with a lighter heart.

After school, he stopped at the market for a bouquet of lavender and tulips for Bella, then walked to the hospital. When he stepped into Bella's room, she was standing by the bed in her hospital gown, being measured around her waist by one of the nurses. She looked up at him and smiled. "Hello, Edward. Carlisle is buying me some new dresses, and needs my measurements," she greeted him. Edward smiled, pleased that Carlisle was taking his role as a father seriously.

Edward took off his hat, bowed in her direction, then said, "I'll just wait here in the hall, until you are ready for my visit." He took a seat, facing the nurse's station, and crossed his legs as he waited. The nurse remembered him from yesterday, and glared suspiciously. He felt a little cheeky, so he smiled and winked at her. Her face turned bright red, and she quickly looked away. Edward chuckled, then placed his arm along the back of the bench.

When Bella's nurse walked out, she told him that he was free to visit Bella now. She headed down the hall toward Carlisle's office, to give him Bella's measurements. Edward wondered what kind of dresses she would be getting.

Standing, he turned to walk into Bella's room, looked over at the nurse's station, and inclined his head kindly. The nurse looked a bit more relaxed than before. Maybe he could charm her into being more lenient with his visits to Bella.

Bella was sitting up in bed, looking much better than yesterday. "My darling girl, you look wonderful today! Here are some flowers to brighten up your room," Edward offered her the tulip and lavender bouquet, with a loving smile, bowing slightly, and looking at her through his lashes. "Oh Edward...you are so charming today. My heart is just flying!" she breathed, with her hand on her chest. She held the flowers up to her face, inhaling the glorious fragrance.

"Then, we are equal in our fascination. My heart is racing as well," he smiled. "My dear Bella, I have a story to tell you today. I think you'll like it." He then told her how things had originally gone when they traveled back to this time. How she had become a vampire, and he was her la tua cantante. How they had stayed together as a couple for the next hundred years, as he aged, and she remained forever 19 years old. He then showed her the drawings that Alice had made, revealing how he would look as he aged.

Bella was transfixed. "Oh Edward, you are so handsome at every age! I hope that I will look as nice when I get older." She could not stop staring at the drawings. "How did you get these?" she asked. Edward then explained how Carlisle, Alice, and Plessario had traveled back to 1867, so they could send letters to the earlier Carlisle and himself.

"Wow," she gushed. "They sure did go to a lot of trouble. And it worked! I'm not a vampire." She smiled. "Edward, now you know how much I love you. I spent a century as your partner, didn't I?" Edward smiled, glowing with the knowledge of her intense devotion to him. "I don't deserve your love, but I will gladly accept it," he answered.

He leaned in for a tender kiss, holding her hand to his heart. Pulling back, he looked deep into her eyes. "I waited a century as a vampire to find you. You spent a century as a vampire loving me as a human. Now, it's our turn to love each other on equal terms, as a human couple. Bella, I have more news for you. Alice says that we will have children...and grandchildren." He glowed as he told her this, and Bella blushed in response.

"Edward, I can't believe this is happening. Everything is working out for us...finally." She wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him with deep emotion. Edward reached up to let his fingers flow through her silky hair. "Bella, I can't wait to marry you again, and raise our family together," he breathed. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Edward," Bella cried, as tears flowed down her cheeks. Edward dried her tears, as well as his own, then sat on the edge of her bed, holding her hand. He then told her about the baseball game this weekend, and how his father had tickets for them to go. She was excited about the game, which pleased Edward tremendously. He really did love the White Sox, and was happy to share this with her.

They visited for about an hour, then Edward had to leave. "Bella, maybe you'll be able to go to Carlisle's house tomorrow. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" he said. Bella glowed with excitement, "Gosh, I hope so. I can't stand these hospital walls much longer." He kissed her goodbye, then went to Carlisle's office.

Carlisle was ordering a full wardrobe of clothes for Bella, looking at a catalog on his desk. He looked a little flustered with all the details. He had never bought ladies clothes before. Edward leaned over the desk, and offered as much help as he could. They chose underwear, shoes, hosiery, nightgowns, skirts, blouses, dresses, cardigans, pullovers, jackets, hats, pants, and a warm overcoat. Deciding that this was enough for now, Carlisle asked for the total, raised his eyebrows, then confirmed the order.

"Well, there goes my savings," he said, with a chuckle. Edward promised to help with the expenses, as soon as he had a regular income. Carlisle smiled in response, "Young ladies are expensive, aren't they?" Edward agreed, "Yes, but they are worth every penny." They laughed, embracing each other with affection.