Epilogue: These Small Hours


Jasper POV

"Do you, Evan, take thee Corey, to be your lofly wedded wife. To love and to cherish, until death parts you?" Father Webber asked the man who was marrying my Corey. Today, was her last day as mine. Now, she belonged to Evan, a man who loved her, heart and sole.

"I do." He choked out. That was it. The final words that gave them the title, husband and wife.

"With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband...and wife." He declared, and I saw the tears being wiped away, and smiles forming on their faces. "You may kiss the bride." She grabbed him behind his neck, pulling him into her. I could see from where I was sitting, how much love was in that one kiss. It was the way I felt when I kissed Bella after being married.

I was the first to stand, cheering and clapping for them. Corey had come a long way from the girl with the bruises and broken bones when I first met her, to the young woman she was today. I was grateful to have her in my life, as well as four blood children. Once they finally broke apart, their song began to play and they began their walk down up the aisle. She stopped in front of Bella and I, and grabbed my hand.

"Congratulations, honey." I said, hugging her tightly. I never wanted to let her go, because once I did, she was gone. I felt Bella touch my shoulder, and knew it was time. We broke apart, and I saw tears streaming down her face.

"I love you." She choked. "So much."

"I love you too." I cried as they began to walk again. "So much." I whispered to myself. We moved outside and began the process of taking pictures. Ever after all these years, Alice still new how to plan the perfect wedding.

Life had been great for the past ten years. Many people only say their lives are everything they want, Bella and I can speak the truth. We have four, gorgeous biological children, and one adopted daughter who people are constantly asking if she's ours. Corey had decided once she was eighteen to visit her mother in jail. It wasn't a long visit, but she got the apology she deserved. Her father, however, wasn't around when she went to see them. He'd been labled a kiddie raper, and was beaten to death. Bella and I thought it was best to tell her he'd gotten pneumonia, and his body couldn't fight it off.

After seeing her mother, she was completely rid of her old life, and went off to Columbia University in New York. Because my mom had gotten sick, I didn't get to the school I had been wanting to.I never resented my mother for that, but it was always in the back of my mind. Corey told us she wanted to, but wasn't sure she could leave Texas. Bella told her our story, her being in California and it gave Corey the confidence she needed to go. She met Evan right away since he was on the floor below her, and it was instant chemistry. They'd been inseperable since shaking hands, and now they were never getting rid of one another.

Bentley was thirteen now, and harder to control and handle than Corey had been. He was a good kid, but he seemed to be doing everything at once. New sitting still, never quiet. My mother told me this was normal, that her brother was the same way when he was Bentley's age. Since Corey had been there since Bentley was born, the held a special relationship than the others. They all loved each other, but there was something about the two of them. Bentley was very protective of Corey when she brought Evan home, and was asking him more questions than I had.

Emma was a doll. An adorable eleven year old. Renee told us she was a lot like Bella when she was eleven. Her nose always in a book, and headphones always on. There wasn't a minute that went by that she wasn't humming, or singing, something we assumed she'd gotten from Alice. Bentley and Emma got along least of all out of our children, but when it really count, they were there for each other. Sometimes I worried they'd never grow out of is, but looking back on how Rosalie and I were at that age, there fights were minute in comparison.

The twins, our last babies were growing up too quickly. Ten already. It was hard to believe ten years ago, I was holding my little Sophia, and she barely fit the length of my arm. They were different, very different. But, like Bella and I, their differences made them stronger. If Brady was sad, Sophia was sad. If someone hurt Sophia, Brady was the first one to give them a piece of his mind. They complimented each other well, and seemed to never fight with the others. They were cool, calm, and collected. Something we thanked God for everyday.

After the pictures were finally over, we made it back to the reception hall. Alice kept it simple, but elegant. Corey was never much for big, fancy, things, and Alice had done a perfect a job. It was when the DJ announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, that I really began to get a knot in my stomach. She would never again be just mine, never again come into the kids rooms when they were screaming with fear.

"I wanna dance with Evan!" Sophia wined. Once Corey had brought Evan home to meet us, Sophia had fallen in love. She told me he was going to be her 'fairytale ending.' But, once Corey came home and told us the news of their engagement, Sophia was heartbroken and ran out of the room in tears. Evan had grown up as the oldest of three, with two younger siblings and was able to handle the situation well. He told her he knew they were meant to be together, but their age would always keep them apart. He said he was marrying Corey because she was the same age as her, but he would always love Sophia more.

"You will, darling. But, Evan does have to dance with Corey first." Alice said as Eli, their youngest came to sit on her lap. Her and Edward waited a long time before having their second child. They continued to tell everyone they were happy with just Owen for so long, that they didn't need another. But, Bella and I knew her better than anyone else and knew it had taken this long to get pregnant again. We could tell when she would refuse to take our calls, or would be distant at family events that she wasn't herself. Eli was born on Christmas at midnight, and they constantly call him their Christmas Miracle.

"It's not fair!" Sophia complained. "I'm the one he really wants to be with!"

"We know that, peanut." Emmett said, ruffling her hair. "But, he did marry her...he couldn't just waltz up to you and be with you. Corey would get suspicious."

"Is anyone ever going to tell her?" Bentley asked, sitting back in his chair. "I mean, the guy just got..."

"Bentley, enough." Bella scolded. After Bentley had gone back to his sketch pad, Owen came back with Edward and stood in front of Sophia. The three of them, my twins and Own had a special bond only being six hours apart. Brady and Owen were the brothers neither got to have, and Owen was just another person who would be there to protect Sophia from anyone who tried hurting her. Brady and Sophia had a special bond because they were twin, Owen and Sophia had this tether that kept them together.

"Care to dance my lady?" He asked, holding out his hand. Every adult at the table 'awwwwed' at his sweet gesture, and Alice whipped her camera and Sophia grabbed his hand. He led her out to the dance floor and I laughed as they tried holding each other like Corey and Evan had. The DJ began playing 'A Whole New World' as they swayed on the dance floor, and once they were done, they got a bigger applause that the newlyweds did.

The dinner plates were cleared away and the dance floor was opened up to everyone. I grabbed Bella's hand as Can't Help Falling in Love came onto the speakers. Every time I heard this song, I thought of her. When we first met, I tried so hard not to. I didn't think I wanted it, the relationship, the girl, the love. Letting someone in. But, it was impossible not to fall for her.

"Shall I stay? Would it be a sin? If I can't help falling in love with you." I sang into her ear as she placed her head on my chest.

"I love you." She whispered, lifting her head and looking into my eyes. "People didn't think I should."

"Should what?"

"Fall in love with you." She said, smiling. "Most people accepted it after I had, but they didn't think I should have."

"And?" I asked, smirking.

"I couldn't imagine my life without you." She said and I leaned into kiss her. "I couldn't imagine having this, this love, with anyone else but you." She told me, and I just squeezed her tighter. She was my entire world, and I wanted to stay like this forever. The song ended, and Evan's best man made his way up to the stage for his speech. After his, I made my way out of the room, and to the car where my guitar was. Corey begged me to give a speech, but I knew nothing I wrote would ever compare to what I felt about her.

I made my way up to the small stage they'd set up, and put the guitar around my neck.

"I've...never been great at expressing myself." I said into the microphone, looking at Bella. "But, with music, I was able to tell my wife how much I loved her at our wedding. So, I thought I would sing to my beautiful daughter, and her new husband." I said, as I began playing the chords to the song.

"Look at the two of you dancing that way, lost in the moment and each others face...And she still means the world to me, just so you know. So be careful when you hold my girl...But I loved her first and I held her first. And a place in my heart will always be hers. From the first breath she breathed, when she first smiled at me, I knew the love of a father runs deep. And I prayed that she'd find you someday, but it still hard to give her away. I loved her first." I sang.

There was barely a dry eye in the house, and I'm pretty sure even Charlie was crying. I knew that Bella didn't give birth to her, but she was my girl. No matter what anyone said. She came rushing up to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I love you, Daddy." She cried into my shoulder.

"I love you too, baby." I said, wiping my eyes.

She let go, and smiled as I wiped her cheeks of her tears. Once all the tears had stopped, the DJ began playing songs again, and the party started. I laughed as I saw Evan get drunker as the night went by, and it took a lot of strength to let Corey drink and not say anything. Soon, it was time to say goodbye to the couple as they headed off on their honeymoon.

"Do you really have to go?" I heard Sophia ask after Evan had picked her up.

"Yeah. Wish I could stay here with you though." He said, and I saw Corey giggling as she stood with Lily and Bentley.

"Fine. But, no kissing." Sophia ordered and Evan shook his head in agreement. He let Sophia down and made his way over to my mom and Marcus.

"You gonna be okay, Jasper?" Morgan asked, coming up to me. It wasn't just Corey who'd grown up too fast, Morgan had too. Morgan was now eighteen, graduating in only three months. I'd known her since she came up to my hips, she was the flower girl at my wedding. I wasn't ready to let her grow up.

"I think so, kiddo." I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and bringing her close. "Just promise me you and Cole aren't getting married anytime soon."

"I don't think so." She laughed, kissing my cheek and letting go. Everyone else had gotten a goodbye, and the inevitable was coming. It was time to officially say goodbye to my little girl.

"We won't be long." She said, twirling her thumbs. "Just a week."

"Maybe you two will be out of state for a week...but you're not coming home." I said sadly.

"No, but, we're only fifteen minutes away." She said, trying to see the light in everything. "Weather I live there or not...you're still the best father a girl could as for." She said, wrapping her hands around my neck, tears streaming down her face.

"You are the best first daughter anyone could ask for." I choked out. After Evan reminded her twice they needed to get going, they walked out of the ballroom.

"They grow up so fast." Bentley laughed, even causing me to laugh. Bella, the kids, and I headed home not long after and we ended up carrying the twins inside. Rain slowly began to come down, and I could hear it it tapping on the aluminum roof on the porch. I quietly walked out of Sophia's room, and into the room Bella and I shared.

"All asleep?" She asked, snuggling to my chest.

"All asleep." I agreed, slowly drifting off to sleep. Just as I had fallen asleep, a loud clap of thunder jolted me awake. "Who's gonna be first?"

"I'm thinking Emma." Bella laughed. Each of our children were deathly afraid of thunder, and it seemed to only get worse as they got older. Bella and I waited for the pitter patter of their feet racing down the hall, and Bella had been wrong. It was Brady who came into our room.

"We've been expecting you." I joked, moving away from Bella to make room for him. He climbed in next to us, snuggling next to Bella as thunder rang through the sky again. Emma and Sophia didn't take long to be in our room, and our bed was much more crowded than it was a half hour ago. Bentley was the last one who emerged, trying to act cool.

"Just wanted to make sure you were all okay." He said, before jumping at the clap of thunder.

"Come here, Bent. We gotta space for ya right here." I laughed, picking Sophia up and placing her on my lap. The six of us spent the next fifteen minutes, holding one another. My phone began ringing, and I smiled at the caller ID.

"Hey." I answered. "Why are you calling?"

"Flight got delayed because of the storm." She told me, and I was never more thankful for a storm. "Put me on speaker?" She asked. Whenever there was a storm, Corey had always been there to help with the little ones, helping us calm their fears. Even when she was at college, she tried to call when she heard there was going to be a storm.

"Guys, Corey's on the phone." I said, pressing the speaking button and they all screamed.

"Darling! Why're you calling?" Bella asked.

"Flight got delayed...and I had to make sure they were all okay." She said. We continued to talk to her as the storm died down, and too soon she was saying she had to go.

"Love you, Dad." She said as I took her off speaker. "I'll call you when we land."

"Okay, sweetheart." I said, trying to avoid the pain in my chest. "Be safe."

"I will." She said, said goodbye and hung up. I looked over at Bella who had the boys close to her side as I watched their deep breaths, signaling they'd fallen asleep.

"She's going to come back, Jasper." She whispered, reaching over and grabbing my hand. "No matter what, all of them are always going to come down."

"I know." I whispered, kissing her hand. "I know." I whispered, looking down at my Sophia, fast asleep in my arms. I was so thankful for each and every person lying in the bed, and knew at that moment, that I had to be the luckiest guy in the world. I wasn't trying to be someone I wasn't. I wasn't trying to pretend like my past didn't happen. I wasn't trying to forget everything leading up to this. I was content with my life.

I was happy.