Super long author's note that's probably longer than the actual chapter (ok, not really):
Finally. I don't know. I thought an epilogue would be good, but it felt so done after that last chapter, and then I got pregnant and spent the next 5 weeks getting to know my plumbing intimately. So yes... This is what I'm good for now.
It amazes me that even though I've been gone for so long, I continue to get favorites and reviews, not to mention PMs from the many people wishing me well. Y'all are much too kind. How do you even find me? I know these stories haven't been on the front page in FOREVER. Crazy. But thank you, everyone. I've escaped hyperemesis after having it twice before, so this pregnancy is indeed a miracle and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and picking up my writing brain once again.
Fear not Spectrum people - I'm talking to you.
So anyway, let's call this one complete. This epilogue wrote itself, but didn't have much steam because I'm out of the habit of writing fluff. Need to find that kernal in my brain again and get it to sprout. Short short, but enjoy. It's purpose is to let you know that everyone is happily ever after, so I hope you take that away with you.
Thanks so much to my friends who have put up with my moaning so far. I repay you in ultrasound pictures, and possibly bacon. All of you who are in the thick of exams - good luck!
Epilogue
The leather creaked as I shifted slightly in my seat. The rain, usually an ever present mist, was pounding on the roof of the car, providing a dull thudding backbeat to the music playing over the stereo. I sat still once again, watching the reflection of the brake lights of the car head of us on the blacktop road.
"The ferry is late," Edward murmured as he absently drummed his long pale fingers on the steering wheel.
"That might be why Alice told you to take your time on the drive." I turned to him and winked sarcastically, trying not to laugh outright at his frustration.
"She would prefer to be cryptic instead of telling me outright, wouldn't she?" he sighed in mock resignation and tipped his head back to rest on the seat of his car, his lips quivering at the corners as he fought a smile at my teasing.
I reached over to run my fingers through his hair, and he sighed again, this time in contentment. I couldn't find any irritation in myself for my sister and best friend. She was the one who had originally suggested this visit, and had assured us that we were on the second day of a 60 day stretch of solid cloudy conditions. There wouldn't even be a hint of sunshine to hinder our brief reunion with Charlie in any way. "She loves to mess with you because you react so well," I reminded him for what felt like the millionth time.
He responded by closing his eyes and wiggling his head closer to make it easier for me to reach his scalp. "I only react so well because you soothe me."
I tousled his hair roughly for a moment, before going back to absently running my fingers through it.
"Sam knows that we're coming?" Edward opened one eye and quirked his eyebrow at me.
"Yes, they all do. I sent a letter to Jake at the same time I wrote to Charlie. I believe they're planning some sort of barbeque at La Push at some point, assuming it stops raining for long enough."
He turned his head to look at me, "and you'll be ok with that?" His eyes were filled with concern.
I moved to kiss him gently. "Of course I will. Everything is changed now, and for the better. I actually can't wait."
"Even with…" he began but I silenced him with another kiss.
"If that was the kind of thing I wanted, maybe it would bother me. But that's something I never saw for myself, so I'm looking forward in delighting in their joy while being quietly and personally relieved that I've escaped that particular right of passage." I smiled against his lips and reached up to brush the hair out of his eyes.
"You are amazing," he grinned in response, and then pulled back slightly. "Someone is going to ask though. You do realize that?"
"It might be a problem if I was emotionally invested in the issue, but since I'm nothing but completely happy with our situation, I can answer them truthfully and they'll know it." I leaned my forehead against his. "Believe me Edward, there is nothing I want that I don't already have."
"Simply amazing," he murmured again, and threaded his fingers through my hair to pull me into a kiss. We didn't break away until the car behind us gave a short irritated beep as the cars ahead of us moved onto the ferry.
xxxx
I pulled down the sun visor to check my brown contact lenses in the mirror one more time. I had only worn them sporadically since my eyes had finally turned to the warm topaz color that I'd fallen in love with in Edward's eyes. The rest of my body changes could be brushed away as the passage of time, but it had been over 6 years since I'd seen Charlie and even he wouldn't believe that your eyes could pale from lack of sun.
Edward reached over and took my hand, slowing his speed as we reached the outskirts of Forks. "You look beautiful, perfect. Are you ready?" His thumb absently traced soothing circles on my hand.
I beamed at him. "Yes. I've been waiting for this for a long time." Our visit would be bittersweet, but I needed to see Charlie one last time; to have some clear memories of the house where I'd lived when Edward came into my life. I wanted to lie in my bed down the hall, with Edward there legitimately this time, and soak up some last little bits of the humanity that I'd left behind.
We pulled up in front of the small house with the brick driveway a few moments later. The front light was on, and Charlie's cruiser was in its usual spot in the driveway. Edward shut off the motor and I saw the curtains in the front window twitch before the front door was thrown wide open. Charlie's warm smell of the sea and leather drifted out over the yard as he called out, "Bella!"
"Hi Dad!" I called, jumping out of the car and moving at a human pace across his lawn. "Don't come past the roof, it's freezing out here!"
He chuckled. "How can you think anything is freezing after staying for so long in Alaska?" He pulled me close for a hug and I kissed his cheek. "Wow you are cold!"
"That's what I said," I laughed. Moving inside as Charlie grasped Edward's hand. "Where's the hot chocolate?" I asked, moving to the kitchen.
"Right where you left it," he said, grinning as he followed along behind me.
I opened the cabinet and moved some ramen noodles aside to find the faded can of hot chocolate. "Charlie Swan, do you mean to tell me that this is the same hot chocolate that I bought before I left?" I laughed turning to catch him mid-shrug as he grinned at me.
"They have coffee at the station. Why would I mess with that?" he shook his head slowly at my scolding, enjoying every minute of it.
The microwave beeped and I quickly fixed my mug, holding it to warm my hands and lips without really taking any in. Charlie poked his head into the living room to check the score on the muted TV, and I took the opportunity to dump and rinse my mug quickly before crossing the room to squeeze his hand with my now warmed ones. "Go on and watch the game with Edward, Dad," I laughed. "I need a shower anyway to wash the road grime off."
"Thanks Bells," he gave me an awkward one armed hug. "Billy and Jacob will be here in a little bit. I told them to pick up pizza. No sense in putting you to work right away."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Thanks for your concern," I shot over my shoulder as I made my way up the stairs, the sound of his laughter following me.
xxxx
I heard Jacob's booming laughter as I stepped from the shower, rubbing a towel through my hair. I'd found a half bottle of my old strawberry shampoo covered in a layer of dust in the cabinet under the sink. The smell triggered some half dreamt memories in the back of my mind, but I couldn't fully grasp any of them or look at them to closely before they'd dance out of my reach. I was once again glad of the chance to come visit one more time: to build memories that I couldn't forget.
I dressed quickly and flung the hairbrush through my hair so I could rejoin the small party downstairs. I skipped lightly down the stairs, feeling my hand reach for the newel post in a kind of muscle memory. I couldn't remember any one time of tripping down the stairs, but knew that it had happened more often than not. I followed the voices into the kitchen.
"So then, since the can of Fix a Flat was empty I took off the flat and put on the spare, only when I jacked it back down the spare just kind of…" he paused laughing to catch is breath. "It almost groaned it was so bad. The thing was flatter than the flat tire." Jacob paused in his story to look lovingly at the dark haired girl sitting at the table next to him. She was laughing into her hands so hard it was impossible to tell if her cheeks were pink from amusement or embarrassment, and her eyes sparkled over the tips of her fingers.
"Bella!" Jacob saw me lingering in the doorway and swooped to envelope me in a hug, lifting my feet off the floor. "I was just telling the story of how I met Kristine."
I crossed the kitchen to squeeze her shoulders lightly as she moved to get up from the table. "Don't get up," I said. "I'm so glad to meet you."
"It is a bit of a load these days," she smiled rubbing her rounded front.
"How much longer do you have?" I could hear the rapid, strong heartbeat of the baby she carried.
"Another couple of months," she said ruefully. "I can't imagine how I can get any bigger but I know it's going to happen."
"I'm so happy for you and Jacob," I squeezed her again before sitting down. "Although I can honestly say I'm not looking to follow you any time soon," I joked, heading off any comments or questions before they could be asked.
Edward smiled at me from his place on the countertop, a half eaten piece of pizza in his lap. I glanced quickly at it and he answered with a small shrug. I figured Jacob had put him up to it and laughed to myself.
"So anyway," Jacob continued, "I didn't have a spare because I was on my bike, and I really didn't want to let her out of my sight," he shot a grin at her, "so I put my helmet on her and she climbed on the back for the ride into town. He crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
"And after hanging on to him for that ride, I pretty much didn't let go after that," Kristine said fondly, staring up at Jacob.
"So we got married, and now we're having a baby," Jacob said softly before snapping back to his old cocky self. "It's a good thing too. Her car was my first and is still my best customer." The kitchen erupted in laughter.
xxxx
I was glad for the visit, and grateful for the chance to see that the people I had left behind had gone on to be happy. I would revel in the 2 weeks that we would spend with Charlie at his house, and would soak up the memories. Edward worried that this second goodbye would be harder than the first one was, but I knew that seeing Charlie doing well, seeing Jacob happy with his soul mate and expected child… All of these things would give my heart the lightness that I needed to be able to say goodbye. I could step forward with no regrets and no fears, into the rest of forever.
