Epilogue: Grateful Moments
Bella was sitting in the backyard relaxing. Just three months ago she had returned from a book tour about her second book. This one she wrote about how it was to reincarnated lovers found each other after many years of separation. Looking at the cover of her book, Bella couldn't help but smile. Writing this book on hers and Edward's moments together without revealing that it was them made her extremely happy. "Mama," a voice called.
Looking up, Bella smiled to see her six-year-old and three-year-old on the swing set. "Mama watch me!" her daughter, Renesmee, called before sliding down the slide.
"Good job Renesmee," she told her daughter smiling.
Looking to the side, she reached into the stroller, lifting her two-month-old daughter, Carlie, up into her arms. "What are you staring at?" she asked smiling at her infant daughter. Carlie let out a little noise, reaching up and grasping Bella's thumb.
After finding out that Bella was pregnant with Renesmee, they had to testify in court about Sharon's stalking, harassment, and Edward's near-death. Sharon had pleaded on a lesser charge and was sent into rehab, having admitted that she was addicted to so many other things. After that day in court, Edward and Bella never saw Sharon ever again, letting them live on with their lives.
Bella was smiling at Carlie's wide green eyes. The day Carlie was born, Bella was excited when she opened her eyes revealing that her eyes were the beautiful emerald green that matched Edward's. As Bella was sitting in her chair watching her two oldest children play, she didn't hear the backdoor open. Edward smiled as he walked onto the patio, kissing his wife's cheek. "You look relaxed love," he commented.
"Hey," she answered smiling.
Edward kissed Carlie's forehead with a smile. "How did it go today?" she asked.
"Good," he replied.
Edward graduated medical school early and was now on his first year as a doctor at the hospital. Bella smiled a little as he lifted Carlie up into his arms. "She's been a little antsy today," she commented.
"Really? Makes you wonder if Alice has been hanging around her too much," he quipped.
Bella laughed, rolling her eyes. After Renesmee was born and after Edward finished medical school, they went back to Forks. They wanted their children to grow up in the town they felt was the safest of all the towns they had ever lived in. Not long after they moved back to Forks, one by one each of the other members of the Cullen family tagged along with the move.
Jasper was now a teacher at the high school, teaching history class. Emmett had put some use to his own teaching degree he received and became a football coach at the same high school. Alice became a fashion designer, but worked at home so she could be with seven-year-old Cynthia and their now two-week-old son, Jackson. Rosalie opened up a daycare of her own, just enjoying her day with children, they hardly saw a frown on her face again.
Jacob had opened up his own bike shop in Port Angeles. A year after Renesmee's birth, Jacob and Annabelle welcomed their daughter, Sarah, named after Jacob's mother. Two weeks before Carlie was born, they welcomed twin sons, William and Levi. William was named after Billy and Levi was Carlisle's middle name.
Bella was watching as Edward was cradling Carlie to his chest, looking back out at the swing set at their two older children. "Hard to believe we're here," she commented. He reached across the table, holding her hand gently.
"I know," he answered smiling.
Bella gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "This came in the mail today," she told him holding up an envelope.
"What is that?" he asked curiously.
"It is a letter from Sharon," she replied.
"I thought she wasn't allowed to contact us?" he asked.
"I know…but maybe we should just open it and see what she has to say?" she asked.
Letting out a sigh, he nodded his head slowly. "Yeah, let's look," he answered after a minute. Resting Carlie over his shoulder, he rubbed her back as Bella opened the letter.
Dear Edward and Bella, I know that the last time you were in the court, you heard the judge say I was not allowed to contact or come anywhere near your family ever again. I have gone through my rehab and I had asked the courts if I could send a formal apology to you. I have been given permission so here is my formal apology. No amount of words can take back the hurt and the anger you feel towards me. I understand completely, I was not the greatest person in this world. Actually, I probably was the worse. No amount of apologies can take back what I did. Even though I wish I could. I am extremely sorry for the pain and torture I put your family through. Bella, you have an incredible husband that makes all of us girls jealous. Hold onto him and never let him go. Edward, you have a loyal, strong wife and I wish I was just as strong to fight against the demons that haunted me back then. I wish you both the very best. This is the last you will ever hear from me. I hope that in your hearts you can forgive me. To prove that I have moved on, there is a photograph inside the envelope. I wish you all the best of luck and all the happiness in the world. And I am truly sorry for the evil things I have done. Sincerely, Sharon Richards-Matthews
Bella looked into the envelope, smiling a little at the picture she saw inside. "Edward look," she murmured. Edward looked at the picture she was holding up, smiling.
"She got married," he commented smiling.
Bella smiled as she looked at the picture. "She looks better," she answered.
"She does," he agreed.
They looked up when the door opened again. "Have no fear grandma's here!" Renee announced.
"Hey mom," Bella greeted smiling.
"Hey sweetie," Renee answered, kissing her forehead.
"GRANDMA!" Anthony and Renesmee shouted.
"There are my grandkids," she commented smiling as she hugged them both.
Bella smiled a little, letting out a sigh. She was glad that she and her mother had fixed things again. Edward looked over at Bella to see such a huge smile on his wife's face. "Mind if I see my baby granddaughter?" Charlie asked smiling as he walked in with Sue.
"Sure," Edward replied smiling, transferring the baby into Charlie's arms.
"She's just so gorgeous," Sue commented.
Phil kissed his stepdaughter's forehead. "How are you doing?" he asked.
"Good," she replied smiling.
Edward chuckled softly as the grandparents played with the kids. Bella got up from her chair, sitting in her husband's lap. Kissing her shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I love you," he murmured.
"I love you too," she answered smiling.
She rested the side of her head against his forehead as she held onto his hands.
In the living room there were several pictures. The old black and white photos that Edward and Bella claim they had professionally done of Carlisle and Elizabeth and then of Carlisle and Esme. There was the picture of Edward and Bella taken of them on prom, the last time they were together when he was a vampire. Their next picture was of their wedding day, then the line of pictures of each child's birth. Following that picture was Anthony's school picture. The second to last picture was of the family of five. The very last picture was the whole family posing.
Bella was staring at the family portrait with a smile before resting her forehead against his. Edward moved his hand up and down her back. He couldn't be happier. "Forever," he whispered. Bella smiled, holding his hand in hers.
"Forever," she answered.
The Poll Stories Choice #1 Bella was running through the dark tunnels, trying to find a way back into the castle. "Please don't let me be too late, please," she whispered. Opening the door, she ran through the stone halls. Once she found the throne room doors, she pulled with all her strength, getting the door open. She was able to see Edward lying on the floor, screaming in pain as Jane was torturing him while the rest of the Volturi looked on. "STOP!" she screamed running into the throne room, throwing herself over Edward. Story Title: Looking for a Blue Sky Rating: T maybe M Genre: Angst, drama Pairings: Canon Choice #2 "Give it back," Bella ordered standing up. Sasha laughed as she tossed the journal to one of her friends. "Monkey in the middle!" the second girl called out. "No give it back!" Bella exclaimed. When she jumped up to grab the journal, she slipped on the bleachers, falling backwards. Her world spun when her head fell back on the steel bleachers. The girls started laughing harder, but stopped abruptly. She looked down to see that her sweater rolled up a little from her fall. Pulling the sweater down she got up, ripping her journal back. She put her stuff away and ran down the bleachers. "Bella?" Emmett called running up. "I have to go, I have to go," she told him as she ran all the way home. Story Title: Strong Enough to Break Rating: T maybe M Genre: Angst, drama Pairings: Emmett/Bella
Please Vote! Voting ends on May 10th, 2010. The poll is on my profile.
