Please please don't be mad at me. I know I said I was going to give happier times but honestly, RL is just not cooperating with me and I've lost my mojo to write. I'm hoping things turn around soon and if they do, then I'm going to write some outtakes of the better times. But for now I'm going to give you the Epilogue.
I'm sorry I didn't respond to the reviews last chapter. I read each and every one of them and appreciated them more than you can imagine. You guys and the wonderful words you leave, are the reason I never gave up on this story.
I have to thank some people here.
First, HOPE4MORE. I can't tell you how much you mean to me. For more than half this story, you were my muse and my sounding board and the person to bring me down from nervous breakdowns. I love you big sis :)
Eternally addicted. What would I do without you? Since the moment you came into my life you have been an amazing friend and I will forever be grateful. Thank you for always calming me down when I feel like I'm about to lose control.
Fragile_Human. My love for you is so deep that it scares me sometimes :) thank you for EVERYTHING.
Secamimom. I don't know what I did to deserve such a great friend, but that's what you have become in the short time we've known each other. I love tweeting with you and I appreciate all your help, you did awesome, BB. Thank you so much :)
Laurajae....This is for us, BB......I hope I did you proud!
Disclaimer. Stephenie Myer is their creator, I just like to play with them. Especially Edward
I bolted up quickly when I hear the little whimper coming from next to Bella. I looked over and noticed Cali wide awake and sucking her thumb snuggled into Bella's embrace. I smiled as I looked down at my two precious girls. The feeling of love washed over me when my little girl's eyes met mine. I reached for her slowly, not wanting to wake Bella.
"Hi Princapessa, what are you doing awake, my precious." I cooed as I brought her tiny little body to my chest, rubbing circles on her back and kissing the top of her head.
She continued to suck on her thumb, and I could tell by the sounds that she was getting hungry.
"Do you want eat?" I whispered softly, repositioning her so I could see her beautiful face. She looked just like her mother. Big Brown doe eyes that shined, perfect peach skin and rosy cheeks and her hair, brown with a hit of bronze. She was the perfect combination of me and Bella.
"Let's check on your brother then get you changed and fed."
I got out of bed and walked over to the bassinet to check on James. He was a heavy sleeper and barley every woke up. He slept through the night since the day we brought them home 3 weeks ago. Our little Cali on the other hand loved to be awake. She didn't cry or fuss, she just loved to sit there and look around.
After fixing James' blanket, and caressing his bronze wild hair that matched mine, I smiled at my little boy sleeping so peacefully. We still couldn't yet decipher the color of his eyes; they were lighter than Bella's but darker than mine. He looked more like me.
I went to Cali's room to change her diaper then headed to the kitchen to make her a bottle. I went back upstairs and sat in the rocking chair in her nursery and fed Cali. I closed my eyes and sighed in contentment on how wonderful my life had turned out.
It took a while for things to get better. Bella ended up quitting the DA's office. The Attorney General wanted her to stay on but she declined, saying that working at the DA's office wasn't for her anymore.
We didn't end up selling the property of E&M investments, instead we remodeled the location and Alice and Bella opened a cozy café called Cafe Lizzy.
We sold my parents house. As much I loved the house, I knew I couldn't live in it. I wanted a fresh start with my family so that's what we did, we sold the house and bought one in a small town about 15 minutes from Seattle.
Alice and Jasper married not to long after Bella and me. They stayed living in Seattle. James and Tori are still dating and expecting a child.
Jake was offered a position in the secret service and he and Nessie moved to Georgia. That was hard for Bella.
Charlie sold his house saying that he wanted a family to live there. He moved into an in law apartment that we built above the garage.
Our lives were coming together perfectly.
Emmett and Rose built their workshop in Seattle and are now expecting their first child. They just shared the news with us over the weekend.
Carlisle and Esme moved to Seattle as well. Carlisle is the new DA.
I don't know what I would have done without them. They stepped up and became my parents after everything I've put them through. They moved into the house not long after I got out of prison and I'm so glad they did.
They were there with Bella to help get me through my depression and anger over everything.
It wasn't easy but we made it through.
Bella and I got married on a Saturday night under the stars. It was small and perfect.
I loved seeing Bella pregnant. She was beautiful. It wasn't the best pregnancy due to severe morning sickness and carrying twins but she was a trooper and held on to 38 weeks.
James Jacob Cullen Masen came first weighing in at 5 pounds 1 ounce and 10 minutes later by C-section Cali Renee Cullen Masen came weighing 4 pounds 5 ounces.
The labor was long, almost 36 hours, James came with 2 pushes but Cali was stubborn and when her heart rate dropped, we were brought in for an emergency c-section.
We found out what we were having because Bella had to be watch closely but we kept it to ourselves, names, god parents and all.
As soon as we knew were having a boy, we both looked at each other and said James Jacob. We wanted our son to be named after the men who saved us both. So we named him James Jacob Cullen Masen. We put Cullen in there for Carlisle and Esme.
Cali was a little harder. We were torn on girls names and it took us till Bell was 7 months to finally agree and the moment she said the name, we both knew.
She was standing outside planting flowers with Esme. She walked in with a hand full of flowers and put them in a vase. She looked so beautiful, I took one of the flowers out and twirled it my hands.
"I love Calla lilies." She said, leaning in to smell the flower.
Then she looked up at me with her beautiful smile and said "Cali. Cali Renee." And we both knew it was perfect.
Esme and I were the only ones in the room for the birth and right before we went in, we asked Esme and Carlisle if our children could call them their grandparents.
I don't think I've ever seen two happier people in my life. I was honored to have the family I did.
After the birth of the twins, we called Jasper and Alice in first and placed Cali in Alice's hands asking them to be her god parents.
We then Asked Emmett and Rose to be James' god parents.
When we introduced little James to big James, I saw for the first time, the true friend that he really did turn out to be. He took James from Bella and we watched as a tear slid down his cheek, when we introduced him to James Jacob.
After everything we had all been through, we turned out to me one big family.
I never went to see Richard; I think it was fate that made up that decision for me. Bella and I were going through some things in my mother's office when Bella came across an envelope with my name on it. I sat on the couch and read the letter with Bella by my side.
My dearest son,
You have been the light of my life since the day you were born. It's because of this that it pains me to be making the selfish choices that I have chosen to make. You are no longer a child and I can only hope that one day you will forgive me.
When your father and I first met, he swept me off my feet and was my prince charming.
We feel in love so fast that neither one of us knew what had hit us. It was a wonderful whirlwind romance and we were married before I knew it.
Not long after, you arrived, we both had never been so happy in our entire lives. I know that your father didn't often show a lot of emotion towards you as you got older, but my dear he has always been so proud of you.
When he first started E&M Investments, he spent many long nights in the office promising me that he was making the sacrifice so that we could one day live the good life and so that he could give you and me the best of everything. He wanted to give us the world.
The problem is, over the years, what you and I both wanted more than anything was him. I missed the loving attentive husband that I once had and you missed the father who used to play catch with you in the back yard.
As the years have gone by and the money in our bank accounts grew, your father still stayed all those long hours at work. I was left at home to find my own source of entertainment and to care for you. Please don't think that I regret one moment of the time I spent caring for you. You have always been the light in my life. And when you were young and needed me to be there for you it was enough for me. I was happy to spend every waking moment being the best mother to you that I could. But you grew up and the older you got the less you needed me to care for you. This meant I had more free time and as hard as I tired your father still remained in that office.
I tried to get him to travel with me. Telling him that you were older now, we could go and see things and do things we couldn't when you were young. There was always something more pressing at E&M that he had to tend to.
So over the years I had come to be very lonely and left to feel unloved. I felt unneeded by your father and as time went on and you got older I felt unneeded by you as well. This caused me unimaginable pain. I would have given back every penny we had just to see your father look at me with the love in his eyes that he had on the day we wed. I didn't know what to do with myself anymore. I didn't know who I was anymore. It was so hard to try and hide it from you. It became exhausting trying to play the happy wife to everyone.
I prayed that somehow, some way an answer would come to rescue me from this life of solitude I seemed destined for. It was then I realized that I had lost the sense of who I was. I somehow had to find a way to get that back.
Then one day that prayer was answered. I met someone, Edward. I never set out to have this happen and for a long time I felt so guilty for it. But he made me feel alive again. He made me feel loved like I hadn't in so many years. He wanted to be with me, spend time with me he couldn't get enough of me and just couldn't help myself no matter how hard I tried.
For a long time now he has begged me to leave your father and come be with him. I fought against the urge to do this out of the guilt feel over what I have done. I am not proud of what I have done, son. I took my wedding vows very seriously. It wasn't until very recently that I have decided that it is time for me to move on. I suspect that your father has known for a while but does not knowledge it.
I am writing this to you today in hopes that by the time you find it you will be able to forgive me for what I am about to do.
I have discovered that I am carrying this man's child. If your father by some chance has not figured out that I have been having an affair, he will very soon as it has been years since we have been together. Because of this I have made the decision to leave your father. It has been a very painful choice for me to make and I realize that it is also a very selfish one. But I want to give this child a happy loving home. I want to be happy again. I want to feel loved and whole again and this man makes me feel something I've never felt. Edward, I love you father but as the years went on, the only reason I love him is because he gave me you.
Please don't ever doubt my love for you my precious son. I have never blamed you for any of this and you must never ever blame yourself. You were innocent in all of this. I suppose it would be easy to blame your father, but it is not his fault either. I did this to myself, I let this happen. I know there must've been times when you felt unloved by us both, especially during those years when you rebelled so determinedly. I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry that I let this happen to you and that I wasn't brave enough to come to terms with me and your fathers failing marriage and failing as parents.
Edward, I'm in love with this man beyond words. The word love is not strong enough for the way that we feel about each other and I only hope that one day, when you have found the love of someone who makes you feel as though they complete you like no other has, like they are you other half, you hold on to her and never let her go. I know you will have that love, Edward.
If you get nothing else form this letter then I hope there is one thing that you do learn and understand. You can't ever settle for second best. You have to be true to yourself and reach for the stars and know that you have within your reach to have it all. You and your personal life must always come first. Your career is second. There will never be anything more important to you than what it is that truly makes you happy. I pray that when you find the woman who makes you feel whole, you will understand why I have done this and you can find it in your heart to forgive me.
I want you to be a part of our lives but I will give you time to register this. I will always welcome you home, with open arms. You are my son and I love you.
All my love, always,
Mom.
I looked over at Bella and knew exactly what my mom was talking about. As much as I hated what Richard did to me and Bella, he was already suffering. He lost my mother and his child. I thought about what it would do to me if I ever lost Bella or our babies and the thought alone made me sick. Richard is living with what he has done. He got 25 years in prison and just as suspected Tyler and Lauren got 10.
When the news came out about Bella and me, we were like local celebrities. It took a few months for the hype to calm down.
Everything was settling in our lives. I was happy, truly happy. Bella and I ran the café, with Alice. I played the piano every weekend for our customers. The café was the home to our extended family. We were always there.
And just like I promised, I took every one to Disney World. 7 days 8 nights of nonstop fun. Bella was still pregnant but wanted to go. She wasn't fond of rides anyway.
"Edward," I opened my eyes to see Bella standing there holding James.
"Hey, love." I whispered. Not wanting to wake a sleeping Cali.
"How long has she been up?" she asked, walking over to me.
"Not long." I replied, removing the now empty bottle from Cali's lips. I shifted her carefully and motioned for Bella to sit on my lap. I wrapped my other arm around Bella and she leaned her head on my shoulder.
I turned towards her and kissed the top of her head, then James'.
"I love you, Edward Masen." She said quietly a small smile playing on her lips.
"I love you, Bella Masen." I turned and brought my lips to her ear.
"My life is complete." I murmured softly as I held onto my family and thanked god for gracing me with 3 of the most perfect gifts anyone could ever ask for.
Well there we go. I really hope you enjoyed it. Please review. I would love to hear your thoughts. I can even deal with the bad :)
I'm going to end this with some story recommendations.
Go read anything by Secamimom.
Britpacksuccubus has very very HOT stories! (ILY!)
Fate and Forgotten Secrets by snshyne. (You're special to me!)
And the story that is owning me like no other, Emancipation Proclamation by Kharizzmatik. FUCKAWESOME story.
You can follow me on twitter, my pen name is CydrynaM.
My girls on twitter, I love you! Thanks for helping me to forget my RL exists! sunshine_00 whenever u make it to my story on that large list of yours, just know that you are my sunshine :) THANK YOU for putting up with my dumbass LOL ILY!
And last but not least this story is dedicated to every one of you that put me on fav, alert and reviewed. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
Till next time.
CM
