Epilogue: Merry Christmas
Bella woke up to the sound of Gabriel crying over the baby monitor. "I've got him babe," Emmett whispered. He kissed the side of her head before he got up and went into the nursery.
Gabriel was wide awake, crying his eyes out. "Wow, you sure know how to use those lungs buddy," he commented softly. He carefully lifted his son up from the crib and moved him over to the changing table. "Yep, I'd be screaming too if I had this loaded diaper," he quipped.
After changing the baby and cleaning up, Emmett lifted his son up into his arms. Kissing the now sleepy baby's head, Emmett smiled as he started pacing back and forth with his son tucked into his chest. Rubbing his son's back, he kissed the top of his head softly.
Looking up, he smiled when he saw Bella standing in the doorway. "I was just letting you sleep babe, you've been up with him every night this week," he told her.
"Well, I like being up with him," she replied smiling.
She kissed Emmett gently before kissing the top of Gabriel's head. She took the baby into her arms, smiling softly as she cradled him to her chest. Gabriel looked up with his deep brown eyes, letting out a yawn. "Yeah, I bet you're tired," she cooed, kissing his forehead softly. She rocked him back and forth in her arms when Emmett stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Hey, look outside," he said softly.
Looking over, Bella smiled to see snow falling outside. "Look Gabriel, it's snowing on your first Christmas," she said smiling. The baby just let out a noise, not interested in the snow outside. "It's too bad he won't remember his first Christmas," she commented.
"No, but we will," he answered smiling.
He kissed the side of her head, hugging her close. Bella let out a sigh as she leaned back against Emmett's chest, closing her eyes. "I love you," she said softly.
"I love you," he answered, rubbing her back.
Later that morning, Bella was sitting on the couch with Gabriel in her lap while watching as Lily was opening her gifts. The girl was ecstatic with all the gifts she had been receiving from her parents, making them both smile. Emmett sat next to Bella with a box. "For you babe," he told her softly. Bella gave him a quizzical look as she let him take Gabriel before opening the box.
Her mouth dropped when she saw two charms to add to her charm bracelet. One was a rose, the other was a piano. "Rosalie was just as important in your life as she was in mine, just as Edward was important in my life," Emmett explained. Bella smiled softly, looking at her husband.
"I love them, thank you," she told him softly.
She kissed him softly before she took a box from the tree, handing it to him, taking Gabriel back into her arms. Emmett gave her a quizzical look before opening the box, his eyes also widening. "Where did you find this?" he asked softly.
It was a picture of Emmett, Edward, Bella, and Rosalie at prom. Emmett was standing behind his wife with his arms around her wast and Edward was standing behind Bella in the same pose. "Your mom," she replied. Emmett smiled softly.
"I love it babe, thank you," he told her.
Bella smiled as she kissed him gently before Lily ran over to thank them for the gifts they gave her. Emmett smiled as he kissed the top of his daughter's head as he showed her the photograph. "I remember when this was taken too. Alice had to practically drag you over to take this picture," he commented.
"You don't like your picture taken I take it?" Lily asked.
"Only if I really have to," Bella replied.
Lily smiled as she looked at the photograph. Bella smiled as she stroked her stepdaughter's head. "You guys looked awesome," Lily commented.
"Yeah we were younger then," Bella quipped.
Emmett rolled his eyes. "We're not that old babe," he answered, kissing his wife's forehead. She shrugged a little looking down at Gabriel in her arms.
"You sure are a blessing Gabe," she commented.
Smiling, he stroked the top of his son's head. "It's okay to remember mom and Uncle Edward you guys. From what you've told me they would've wanted you to be happy no matter what," Lily commented. Bella nodded her head slowly.
"It's been a long road, but I believe it now," she answered.
Emmett hugged his family close. "It's a special Christmas, the first one as a whole family," he told them.
"It is," Lily agreed quietly.
Bella rested her head on Emmett's shoulder while hugging Lily close. "I love you three, so much," she told them.
"And we love you," Emmett answered smiling.
Glancing outside, Bella smiled to see the snow still falling before relaxing in the embrace of her whole family. "Merry Christmas," Emmett whispered.
"Merry Christmas," Bella answered.
They sat in a comfortable silence as they enjoyed their first Christmas together with baby Gabriel, knowing that their lives were completely full. After a long road of pain and heartache, Bella realized that there was finally a light at the end of the dark tunnel and it held her husband, her stepdaughter, and her son. She couldn't ask for anything more and it made her feel complete.
Before Bella came into his life, Emmett was a hard shell that took care of his daughter. Reconnecting and falling in love with Bella made his life feel fuller, happier. It took him forever to see that it was okay to love him, but it was worth it. He had a full, happy life, which was all he could ever ask for.
As they cuddled on the couch with their kids, they couldn't help but feel like everything was right, the way it was supposed to be and this feeling would stay for the rest of their lives.
Author's Note: I know it's early but Merry Christmas everyone *smiles*. This is the last chapter *frowns* but I love that you all supported it so much. Thank you so much for your support *smiles*. Below is a poll for the next story to choose next for me to write. Voting ends on December 28th. (Story Choice #1) Carlisle shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I'm just not interested in the dating world," he answered. "Because of her…right?" Daisy asked. Letting out a sigh, he nodded his head slowly. "Yes, it's because of her," he answered. Daisy rested her hand on his shoulder, giving him a sad smile. "Carlisle, you should find someone who you can be with," she told him. "I don't want to try to find someone. There's no one else for me, it's just that the woman I love is married to someone else," he replied. Title: The Other Half of Me Pairing: Carlisle/Esme Rating: T maybe M (Story choice #2) Jasper let out a deep breath as he held onto Alice's hands. "Alice, I love you with all my heart," he told her softly. She smiled up at him. "I love you," she answered. He smiled as he kissed the back of her hands. "I don't care that you're not part of the higher class as me, I just want you," she said softly. Smiling, he rested his forehead against hers. "I just hope that's enough to convince your uncle," he whispered. Title: I Need You Pairing: Jasper/Alice Rating: T maybe M (Story Choice #3) Rosalie bit her lower lip as she hugged Emmett tight. Closing his eyes, Emmett hugged her close, burying his face into her long blond hair. "I'm here Rosie, always," he said softly. She tightened her grip on him. "I'm scared of what to do," she said softly. "I know," he answered. Rosalie buried her face into the side of his neck as she cried. She cried out of heartache and of fear. She feared of what would happen if they were ever found out. She couldn't bear the thought of Emmett getting killed because of her, but she couldn't imagine her life without him either. Title: The Perfect Connection Pairing: Emmett/Rosalie Rating: T maybe M (Story Choice #4) Bella was sitting on the sidelines, biting her lower lip when she noticed that Edward hadn't returned from getting the baseball. "I'll find him! The slowpoke must've seen a bird," Emmett teased. Rolling her eyes, the girl got up from the ground.
"You stay here, I'll find him," she told Emmett as she ran down the trail. After nearly falling down a few hills, Bella stopped when she saw the baseball and Edward's hat, but no Edward. "Edward?" she called, looking around. She turned around to see if Edward was playing some sort of trick again. "EDWARD!" she shouted. Title: Come what May Pairing: Edward/Bella Rating: T maybe M