Everyone cry, this is the last chapter!!
Chapter Twenty-Eight: New Life
"Wow," I said, speechless.
"You like it?" he asked with a faint smile and a raised brow.
"Like it?" I asked with a laugh, walking out on to the back porch of the beach house. The warm wind flew through my hair as I leaned against the railings looking out at the teal waters of Tahiti. "You know me too well."
His arms wound around my waist, placing his chin on my shoulder as we watched the waves wash against the sand. The palm trees swayed in the wind and the sun was bright in the sky.
I finally got to push my long sleeves up to my elbows since we left Forks. It was odd to see my skin sparkle just like Edward's but comforting to know I was just as beautiful as he was, and I belonged. But here we had our own beach to ourselves and we didn't have to hide anymore.
I could feel his lips against my neck as we stood and watched the waves. I twisted in his arms to face him with a playful smile.
"What are we standing here for?" I asked. "That water is just screaming to be swum in."
I giggled and pushed him away, racing down the walk to the sand. Edward, of course, was there before me and caught me before I reached the water. His arms held me against his body, lifting my feet off the ground as I screamed, laughing and squirming around in his arms. My escape was useless as he swung me up in his arms and walked towards the water.
"Going for a dip?" he asked with a smirk.
"No, no!" I laughed, still squirming.
He laughed with me and shook his head. "I think you want to."
"No!" I screamed as he threw me towards the water. I flew through the air only for him to catch me again before I hit the water.
"Very funny!" I growled, crossing my arms in a pout as he laughed. "Are you just here to scare me half to death?"
"You know that's not possible," he pointed out with a grin.
"Yeah, yeah," I said, brushing that one off. "But do you always have to play unfair?"
"Unfair, hmm?" he asked with a raised brow, his arms tightening around me. "And how would I be doing that?"
"Always there before me!" I cried. "I still feel human next to you!"
He laughed again before slowly dipping me into the warm, teal water. "No!" I cried. "My new clothes!"
He didn't listen to me and instead dropped me in the water. I came up from under the water, taking a breath I didn't even need as I glared at him. "Alice is not going to happy with you," I said in an angry tone, trying hard to hide my smile. "These are originals."
He shrugged, and wound his arms around me again, holding me to his chest. "She can live with it," he said with a smirk. "I just wanted to see you wet."
He leaned in to kiss me but I teasingly turned my head away, grinning. "Nope, nope," I said, sticking my nose in the air.
"Well why not?" he asked giving me a face that made my breath catch.
"Because you have to work for it," I said before splashing water in his face and breaking out his arms to swim away.
It didn't take long for his arm to be around my waist again and pull back to him again. "Unfair!" I screamed as he crushed me against his chest. "You didn't even give me any time!"
He laughed, running his fingers against my bare arm and making me shiver again. "Did you really want any time?" he asked with a raised brow and wickedly amused golden eyes.
I sighed, giving in. "Okay, fine," I said. "You worked for it."
"Thank you," he answered and he placed his lips on mine.
I stood on the porch again, leaning against the railing and watching the sun set slowly over the crashing waves. My hair blew in the soft wind, still a bit wet from the day's activities but new clothes, courtesy of Alice, were dry and warm. I sighed happily, thinking about all the other places I would get to visit in my lifetime.
His arms were around me again and I sighed.
"Do you have to sneak up on me all the time?" I asked as he kissed under my jaw.
"It's most certainly not my fault," he chuckled. "You're just too caught up your thoughts to hear me. By the way, am I allowed in your head again?"
I shook my head, grinning. "I'm sorry, but it's locked up again."
He sighed. "Just one little peek?" I could feel his hands running up and down my sides and his lips against my neck, tempting me.
"Nope," I said, finding it hard not to give in.
"Well will you tell me what you were thinking about?" he asked.
I thought for a moment. "About how happy I am."
I felt the tremor of his breath against my skin as he laughed. "And what are you happy about?"
"I'm happy because we don't have to hide anymore," I started, finding it hard to think as his hands touched the skin of my stomach.
"Mmm," he agreed. "You're safe now."
"I know," I said with a smile. "I don't have to be afraid again. Another thing I'm happy about is that I have a bigger family."
I smiled at the thought of the Cullens as my family and how they all accepted me for who I was. Then, since I was getting control over my bloodlust, I would be able to visit Charlie and Renee soon. I'd missed them both but I was happy to see them getting on with their lives and accepting my decision.
I felt him nod as he continued to kiss my shoulder.
"But," I said, spinning around to face him again. "Do you know what I'm happy about the most?"
He smiled crookedly at me, his skin and golden eyes sparkling in the setting sun. "What's that?" he asked, his voice smouldering.
I threw my arms around his neck and put my forehead against his, staring into his eyes. "I'm happy that I found you," I said with a smile. "And that we're together."
He nodded at that. "That's a very good thing," he said.
"I know it is," I agreed.
He brushed his lips against mine as the sun continued to set, sending a cast of reddish colour against his skin.
Then I knew I was as happy as I had ever been in my whole existence. My human life may have died but my new one was just beginning.
"I love you Bella," he said, staring me in the eyes again.
"I love you Edward," I replied.
And then he kissed me.
The End
