Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Well, we've reached the end of this little tale. Please indulge me for a moment as I extend my most sincere thanks…

…to my betas, tiffanyanne3 and aecarlso, whose help has been invaluable through the months we've been working together. Being a beta is often a thankless job, but please know I appreciate you both so much!

…to my pre-readers, GoSpikey and KatetheGreat13, who calm me when I'm freaking out, and catch the inevitable mistakes that fall through the cracks.

…to the Whack Pack - AnnieLou13, tropicalsorbet, KatetheGreat13, slyt, suespunky, teambella23, psyche001, BrennAstotle, NikkiTwilightLover, & itsrpattzbaby - who have been so supportive since the very beginning…and to all the new readers and friends I've met on Twitter and the Twilighted thread since the Prologue posted. I feel so fortunate to know all of you!

…to the cheerleaders, especially spanglemaker9, SparklingWand, Belindella, ltlerthqak, Duchess Jess at the Twi-Muses, Kassiah at The Fictionators, Rebekah at Twi-FicPromotions, Jennmc75 at TWCS, Lady Amery at the LUSTorium, Sue at So You Think You Can Write, Tiffanynichole, The Twinklings, sign144, and everyone who's recommended this story on blogs, updates, Twitter, and wherever they could. Your kindness has been humbling.

And finally, to all of you who've taken the time to read this story. You can't know what it means to me that you were willing to give it a shot…and that so many of you thought it was worth sticking around to see how it turned out.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. His eyes are closed."

- Albert Einstein

Epilogue – Of Final Farewells and Facing the Future

Eighteen Months Later

I sank to my knees on the frozen ground, brushing the icy snow away from the flat granite headstone.

Margaret Miriam Oleson

February 2, 1883 – August 9, 1973

Edward stood a short distance away, watching me from his position near a large, leafless oak tree. Here and there the brown and green of the dirt and dormant grass was broken up by piles of weeks-old snow and the occasional bright red of a poinsettia. Christmas was still a few weeks away, but Chicago was well into celebrating the season, and even the cemetery showed signs of the coming holiday.

Edward watched me carefully, still not convinced that this trip was a good idea. I knew he wasn't worried about my self-control – I'd passed through my newborn stage with relatively few issues – and now, more than a year since my change, I had very little problem being around humans. No, Edward wasn't concerned about others. As always, he was worried about me.

He knew this trip into my past – our past – would be painful. But it was something I really wanted to do. Something I felt I had to do. To say goodbye to those who helped me survive during my time in 1918, and to finally lay to rest that part of Edward's and my life together. Since we'd arrived, I'd visited the graves of all of my friends, saying my last farewells.

Tom and Samantha had been buried next to each other with a few of their children surrounding them. Eleanor's grave was out behind her house. Her home was now a women and children's shelter, and as I lay a handful of roses on her headstone, I could hear the laughter of children having a snowball fight in the back yard.

Eleanor would have loved that.

And finally, there was Maggie.

"Ninety years old, huh?" I said quietly to her headstone as I stood up. I knew Edward could hear me, but he turned away to at least give me the illusion of privacy.

"That's a pretty good life, Maggie," I continued. "I heard you took Henry back. I was glad to hear that…glad you weren't alone. And you had a daughter? I bet you were an amazing mother."

Even without her physical presence, there was something comforting about talking to Maggie, and I found myself confiding in her about my life since I'd come back to the present.

"Carlisle said you figured out what happened to me," I said. "Or at least that I'd gone back where I came from. Edward and I are doing great. We're engaged…again." I laughed, fingering the ring that Edward had given me six months before. If I'd been physically able, I would have sobbed when he dropped to a knee and held it out to me. As it was, I felt a tightening in my chest, followed by a blooming of love so powerful it nearly brought me to my knees. It brought with it a strange sense of déjà vu to see Edward kneeling before me for the second time, asking me to be his wife. Of course, he understood that we actually were still married – well, at least before God, even if such a relationship may not be recognized by law. But since he had no memories of his own of the event, it was important to him to take the vows again.

For me, it was just another chance to show Edward how much I loved him. I could never get enough of those. I'd also be able to have a wedding with the people I'd missed at my first one. The thought of dancing with Charlie and the smile on Renee's face got me through any nerves I had at the prospect of once again being the center of attention.

The ring brought with it its own wave of bittersweet emotions. I'd recognized it instantly, having seen and admired it countless times on his mother's hand. A narrow gold band split into a delicate web of gold across the long oval setting, twisting between slanting rows of glittering diamonds. It was gorgeous, but I had to admit to a pang of loss for my original wedding ring. I didn't know where it was – lost somewhere in the mists of time.

Just one of the many unanswered questions I still had about my journey.

Still, it seemed appropriate to have a new ring to represent our new life…a fresh start.

"Jake wasn't too happy about it," I told Maggie. "God, when he heard Edward was going to change me? I thought he was going to explode. Actually, he did, kind of." I laughed humorlessly, remembering how for a few weeks Jake phased if I ever even mentioned Edward or any of the Cullens. Of course – Jacob being Jacob – our friendship had won out, and he ended up being an advocate for Edward and me with the rest of the pack. Although Sam was the group's leader, Jacob was the one with true Alpha blood flowing in his veins. He'd never wanted to be in charge, but he put his foot down when the others had threatened war on us, citing an old treaty prohibiting the Cullens from ever biting another human.

There was a lot of debate over the fact that I was actually choosing to be bitten. It was a gray area, and I came to feel like a pawn in a bizarre game of vamp/werewolf politics. The fight got pretty heated, and for a while it looked like there might be a kind of civil war among the Quileute brothers. But, in the end, Jacob won out, although we'd all had to leave Forks and stay away – forever, according to the rest of the pack – for the immediate future, according to Jacob. He seemed positive that the others would come around eventually and we'd be able to return someday.

I hoped so. Despite the fact that I'd hated that cold and drizzly corner of Washington when I'd moved there, I'd come to love it.

Charlie's reaction to my engagement hadn't been much better than Jacob's to my transformation. Surprisingly, it was Renee who softened his stance on the whole thing. Edward and I had flown to Jacksonville to visit her during Spring Break, and she'd spent a lot of time getting to know him. I'd thought for sure she would flip when just a few months later I told her I was getting married, but Renee had been supportive, saying I was always one who knew my own mind, and she had no doubts that Edward loved me.

"I went to Europe," I continued in my one-way dialog with my old friend. "We told Charlie that Edward and I had won placement in a summer program in Italy. I had to get out of Forks, far enough away so Charlie wouldn't get a wild hair and decide to visit. He and Carlisle took me to Alaska first…this little cabin way up in the mountains. We had to be someplace away from people."

I wasn't cold, but I felt a shiver run down my spine as I recalled my time in that cabin and the three days of my transformation. Most of it was a blur of pain…fear…burning. I'd remembered what vampire venom felt like because of James' bite, but to feel it through my whole body? It was excruciating. I understood finally why Edward said the agony of the change was a new vampire's strongest memory.

It was one I wished I could forget.

I never told Edward that somewhere deep inside I had a niggling fear that once I'd been changed he might not want me in the same way. Although being his "singer" was life-threatening, in a way it was also a little reassuring. I knew he wanted me more than anyone else. Sure, I now realized that it was because of our connection in the past, but I also knew my blood tied him to me as well.

Carlisle actually took some of my blood before I was changed because he was convinced that our transfusion was the real reason Edward was so attracted to my blood. Luckily, my experiences at the hospital had pretty much done away with my squeamishness around needles, and I was happy to provide a pint or two to satisfy Carlisle's scientific curiosity. He hadn't come up with any answers yet, but I had no doubt he would someday.

As for my fears, they proved to be unfounded. Edward was as attracted to me – if not even more so – now that I had venom running through my veins instead of blood.

Edward and I had planned to stay at the cabin for a good portion of my newborn year, while Carlisle returned to the rest of the family. That fell apart when Carlisle showed up one night with a grim look on his face and said we'd been summoned by the Volturi. He'd explained they were kind of royalty, in charge of enforcing vampire laws – the biggest one being keeping the existence of their kind a secret. Evidently they'd been informed that the Cullens had blabbed about that secret and had demanded that all of us appear before them. Carlisle said he'd tried to explain to them that I'd been changed and no one else knew about them, but the Volturi wanted to see for themselves.

Since Carlisle thought being cooped up in a plane with a couple hundred humans might be a bit too much temptation for me, Edward and I swam to Europe while the rest of the family flew.

"That's right, I swam to Europe," I told Maggie with a laugh. "It's actually not as hard as you'd think when you don't have to breathe and have limitless stamina."

The Volturi – Aro, Caius, and Marcus – held court in an ancient castle in a gorgeous Italian village. I was shocked at the seeming unawareness of the thousands of people who lived in the town, but Edward told me the Volturi never hunted on their home territory. In essence, it was probably the safest place in Europe for a human who wanted to avoid becoming a meal for some hungry vampire.

I was overwhelmed when I'd walked into what I could only describe as the Volturi throne room. The three ancient vampires were creepy, to say the least, with their papery skin and milky red eyes. The Volturi guard stood nearby, huge and intimidating, and there were others watching the happenings with interest. It actually took a few moments for me to recognize one of them, standing off to the side.

Victoria.

She stood, arms crossed over her chest, her angry eyes darting back and forth between me and Edward. Skulking behind her, apparently trying to be invisible, was Laurent. I later learned he had been in Forks, keeping track of me for Victoria. After what had happened to James, (I'd been relieved to know he was in fact still dead, and my meddling in the past had not altered that reality) she'd made it her mission to destroy me, and in turn, Edward. A mate for a mate, Laurent had said. But the return of the Cullens and the unexpected presence of the Quileute pack had put a kink in Victoria's plans. So she'd turned to the Volturi, hoping they would do her dirty work for her.

Edward had held my hand through the whole ordeal, standing stiffly on one side of me with Carlisle on the other. The rest of my family stood behind us in a protective half-circle. The tension was thick in the air and even Carlisle was conspicuously alert, his fingers flexing at his sides as Aro – apparently the spokesman of the group – stepped forward to speak to us.

In the end, the meeting was surprisingly anti-climactic. Aro had exchanged a few pleasantries with Carlisle, taking his hand…then Edward's…then Alice's, ignoring the rest of the family. Edward had explained to me about Aro's ability to see every thought a person had ever had with a mere touch of his fingers. The Volturi also had a craving for power, and coveted Edward's and Alice's abilities. Aro had not so subtly invited the two of them to stay in Volterra for as long as they liked, an invitation both Edward and Alice politely refused.

"And this must be the lovely Isabella," he'd said when he finally approached me, extending a papery hand. Edward had nodded slightly and I reached out, fighting a wince as Aro took my hand in both of his, closing his eyes and tilting his head slightly as he searched my mind.

The room stilled and I held my breath as I waited.

Aro glanced up at me briefly, a look of confusion on his face before he squeezed his eyes shut once again. I heard Edward chuckle slightly next to me.

"Remarkable," Aro said finally as he released my hand, his eyes drifting to Edward. "Does she block you as well?"

Edward simply nodded. "She always has, even as a human."

"Remarkable," Aro had said again, before turning back to me. "Can you control it?"

I swallowed, still unsure of what he was talking about. "I…I don't know. It's not something I do on purpose."

Aro smiled softly, his gentle expression belied by the glittering appraisal in his eyes. "You should train her, Carlisle," he'd said without taking his gaze from mine. "Such a gift should not be squandered."

"Of course," Carlisle had replied quickly.

"Well, brothers," Aro had said finally, clapping his hands together once as he stepped back onto the raised dais where Caius and Marcus sat observing. "I believe we can agree there is no violation here." He spared a pointed glare at Victoria, whose eyes dropped instantly. Laurent was nowhere to be seen, and had apparently slipped from the room when he saw Victoria's plan going south. Caius and Marcus each nodded briefly, but made no comment, and Aro turned back to us.

"It was wonderful to see you, old friend," Aro said to Carlisle with a smile, "and all of your family as well, the newest member included." He turned his smile on me briefly before returning to Carlisle. "Is there any way to persuade you to stay for a while? I have missed your company over the years."

Carlisle had stepped forward. "Thank you for your hospitality, Aro. Unfortunately, we must be returning to the States as soon as possible."

Aro had nodded sadly. "Of course. You have obligations elsewhere. I understand," he said. "I sincerely hope it won't be as long before your next visit."

We had left quickly, my eyes drifting to Victoria's as we made our way to the large doors. Emotions flew across her face, from anger to defiance to sadness and finally a defeated resignation. I almost felt sorry for her.

"What will happen to Victoria?" I'd whispered to Edward as the huge doors slammed shut behind us.

Edward had wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. "I don't know. She took a risk taking this to the Volturi. They don't appreciate having their time wasted, and I'm sure Aro knows her true motivations," he said quietly. "In any case, I don't think she'll be bothering us anymore. Aro has always held out hope that one day Alice and I would join him. Now he's added you to that hope."

I shivered slightly at the prospect.

"Victoria doesn't dare risk angering the Volturi by continuing to come after us," Edward continued. "If they let her live, that is."

The fluttering of snowflakes drew my attention back to the present. I tilted my head back, closing my eyes as the fluffy whiteness drifted down around me. "We haven't seen Victoria since…Laurent either," I told Maggie quietly. "When we got back to Alaska, Carlisle decided we needed to start working on my control over my shield…that's what he calls it – a shield. That was frustrating at first. You have no idea," I said with a laugh. "But over time, I kind of got the hang of it." My voice drifted off in the quiet stillness, the only sound my slow breaths and the soft plop of the snowflakes as they hit the ground.

"Are you all right?" Edward's arms wrapped around me from behind as he pulled me back against his chest.

I reached up to hold his forearm and leaned my head on his shoulder. "Yes. I just…miss her."

"I know," he whispered, kissing my temple. "Are you ready to go?"

I nodded, sparing one last look at Maggie's headstone and a whispered goodbye before we turned to leave the cemetery.

x-x

I had to admit my trip down memory lane was a little depressing. It was a bit jarring to witness Chicago's transformation from a charming early twentieth century city to a bustling modern metropolis. It was loud, busy…and my enhanced senses only made it seem even more so. Cook County Hospital had moved to a new building and had a new name. The stone structure I remembered still stood, the contrasting gray and terra cotta stone and sharp corners softened and muted by time. Although it had been shut down, I was pleased to learn it was undergoing renovations and would be used for medical offices. I smiled when I saw the alley next to the old building, remembering the many stolen kisses Edward and I had shared pressed up against the cold stone wall.

The skating rink where Edward and I had our first date was now an empty lot. The Orpheum Theater was gone, replaced by a fast food restaurant. The church where the Chicago Women's Association had met was still there, but its façade was worn, the stained glass windows cracked and the beautiful wooden doors replaced by industrial steel.

Lincoln Park looked remarkably the same, although the touch of winter had stripped the leaves from the trees and covered the grass with an icy coating. The snow had stopped, and the gray water of the lake rippled in the brisk breeze, slapping against the beach periodically. We strolled through the park, and I squeaked in surprised when the Couch Tomb came into view, darting over to circle the low stone building with a smile on my face.

Edward watched me with amusement. "Am I missing something?" he asked.

I laughed, beginning to tell him about the time shortly before our wedding when we'd been caught making out behind the tomb by the police. Edward grinned and grabbed my hands, saying simply, "Show me."

I smiled, closing my eyes and pulling my shield back as I had practiced with Carlisle. We'd gone through this process countless times since I'd learned that it was possible to control my gift. Edward always preferred to share Alice's and Carlisle's memories, saying he liked seeing me in them, since all of my memories were always focused on him.

Still, there were times like this…times when it had just been Edward and me…when I was the only one who could show him what had happened. I loved being able to give him this – his only taste of our old life together. So as I concentrated on keeping my shield down, I ran through my memories of that day in the park, trying to recall every detail…every kiss…every laugh. When I opened my eyes, it was to find Edward watching me with a gleeful smile on his face, and a mischievous sparkle in his eye. He swept me up in his arms, kissing me softly.

"I never knew you were such an exhibitionist," he said, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. "That's definitely something I'll have to keep in mind."

It was moments like that I was grateful I no longer had to worry about blushing.

We made our way from the park to Edward's old house, and I was surprised that his street looked relatively unchanged. The homes had aged, but were well-maintained. Satellite dishes and shiny new cars testified to the passing of the decades, but effort had been made to retain the neighborhood's historic atmosphere.

"This is it," Edward said quietly as we stood across the street. The house had been painted a pale blue with white trim, the iron railing around the front porch now matching the trim and draped with evergreen garland accented with big white bows. The low fence around the front yard was gone, the brick walkway replaced by flagstone. A Christmas wreath hung on the red front door, which was also flanked by two narrow trees sprouting from golden urns and decorated with white lights.

"It hasn't changed much," I replied.

Edward chuckled lightly. "That's right. I forget sometimes that you've been here."

I smiled to myself, listening for any sounds of movement in the house. "I don't hear anyone. Do you?"

Edward was quiet, and I knew he was listening with his mind instead of his ears. "No. Fancy a little breaking and entering?"

I laughed. "You're a bad influence on me."

He took my hand, pulling me across the street. "I warned you about that a long time ago. You should have stayed away when you had the chance," he said with a wicked grin.

It took only a moment for Edward to pick the lock of a side door. We moved quietly through the silent rooms, taking in the changes and smiling at the things that hadn't.

"The sofa used to sit there," Edward said, pointing to a spot in the living room. "And my mother's chair was there. She loved that chair. She had to put a slipcover on it when the cat shredded the fabric."

"Mr. Jiggles?" I asked, remembering him and his mother laughing about the cat as she lay in her hospital bed.

Edward looked at me in surprise. "How did you know that?"

I just shrugged as a wave of sadness swept through me at the memory.

We made our way upstairs, looking into Edward's old room, which was now a home office. Edward seemed a little sad, so on impulse I dropped my shield to share a memory of him stealing a kiss from me in the bathroom while his mother was downstairs leading a planning meeting for the charity ball. Edward growled, and before I knew it, he had me pressed against the wall, his mouth insistent on mine. His lips trailed down my neck, nibbling at my collar bone and I gasped at the sensation.

"You need to warn me before you do that," he said gruffly, his hand sliding up to cup my breast through my shirt as his tongue flicked at my earlobe.

"Oh, where's the fun in that?" I asked breathlessly, arching into his touch.

Being with Edward had been amazing when we were both humans. When I first returned from 1918, it was intense but restrained, since he still had to be careful not to hurt me. But now…now that I'd been changed? I couldn't find the words to describe it. The constant craving we had for each other…the uninhibited passion that Edward now let loose…it brought our relationship to a new level that still shocked and amazed me. I once asked Edward how long we'd be ruled by this consuming arousal and lust.

He said it could last "a while."

Yeah. A while.

I thought it might kill me…well, if I wasn't already dead…sort of.

Not that I was complaining. Edward's insatiability was matched by my own, and now that we were on equal footing physically I was – to put it mildly – incredibly satisfied.

Yet always wanting more.

"We should go," I murmured as Edward pulled my shirt open, sliding my bra cup down so he could tease my nipple with his tongue and lips.

"Mmm hmmm," Edward mumbled, sucking me deep into his mouth, eliciting a shameless groan. My hands drifted around to grasp at his ass, squeezing harshly as I pulled him against me. He released my breast, grinding his hips against mine as our rapid breaths filled the air.

"It's almost five o'clock,' I reminded him, my body belying my words as I continued to cling to him. "They'll be home soon…we don't want to be… Oh…" He licked at my ear, sucking the lobe into his mouth as his fingers trailed to my ass. "We don't want to be caught having sex on their hallway floor," I managed to squeak out.

Edward bit at my shoulder lightly before sighing and pulling the front of my shirt back together. "You're right," he said with a disappointed frown. His eyes flashed up to mine. "Rain check?"

I grinned. "Absolutely."

He took my hand and we made our way to the sun room at the back of the house. My heart sank a little when I noticed the pair of wicker chairs that now sat in the spot once occupied by Edward's piano. The French doors had been replaced by a larger set, and we walked soundlessly out into the back yard.

The maple trees were bigger, the fruit trees were gone, and a hot tub sat on a raised deck in the far corner of the yard where the bandstand had been during our wedding. A swing set took up the other corner, and various toys peeked out from under the patches of snow and ice on the lawn.

"The archway was there," I told Edward quietly, pointing to the spot where we'd stood to exchange our vows. "Your mom and Samantha went all out decorating for the wedding with roses and tulips and tulle. There were all of these orange blossoms and when the wind kicked up they'd flutter all around us."

Edward smiled softly and walked to the back of the yard, pulling me along with him. He paused just short of the back fence and turned to me, taking both of my hands in his.

"Here?" he asked. "This was where we stood?"

I nodded, knowing what was coming next.

"Show me?" He reached out to touch my cheek. He already held Carlisle's memories of our wedding, but he loved to see it in my mind as well. He said it was like listening to music in stereo…the closest he could get to having his own memory of the event.

I closed my eyes and focused on dropping my shield again. It was getting easier each time I did it. My heart filled with warmth as I mentally ran through the details of the day – the flowers…the vows…the joy…the scent of orange blossoms and Edward…the faces of friends and those I came to think of as family.

"It was perfect," Edward finally murmured as my memories dwindled and my shield pushed back into place.

"Yes, it was," I agreed, popping up on my toes to kiss him lovingly. His arms circled my waist as he pulled me closer, deepening the kiss before he pulled back, stroking my hair softly.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"For what?"

"For marrying me…then…and now…"

I grinned. "Well, don't get used to it. I only plan on one more wedding in my life."

Edward smirked in return. "Agreed. Just one."

The sound of a slamming door drew our attention and we realized someone had come into the house. Edward led me around the side yard, listening intently to whoever was moving around inside. I stubbed my toe on something, causing a clattering against the flagstone pathway. Edward reached down and picked up the shovel that I had inadvertently kicked. I grimaced at him and we both froze, listening for any sound that indicated my stumble had been heard. When everything remained calm, Edward propped the shovel against the side of the house and we made our way out of the yard and down the street without drawing any attention to ourselves.

The light grayed as the sun sank below the horizon, out of sight behind the cloud cover. We still didn't risk running through the city and instead hopped the "L" on our way to Maggie's boarding house.

I didn't know how I would feel if the house was gone, or – even worse – had been left to decay. I dreaded finding Maggie's house in disrepair, riddled with peeling paint, cracked windows, overgrown flower beds, or a car on blocks in the front yard.

God. Maggie would have rolled over in her grave.

My nervousness evaporated as the house finally came into view…and it looked exactly the same. The three-story brownstone had either been lovingly maintained, or painstakingly restored. It was decorated for Christmas, with twinkling lights and garland draped over the stair rails and a large wreath on the front door. The walls were the same rich color I remembered, the porch neatly swept, the flower beds trimmed back for the winter.

I became aware of Edward watching me closely in the dimming light. I started to turn to him, when a movement caught my eye. A woman walked out the front door and the sight of her sent a shock through my system.

Before I even realized what I was doing, I was across the street, standing at the foot of the stairs. The woman looked up, her hand flying to her throat in surprise.

"Maggie?" I gasped, unable to rationalize how the woman I knew ninety years earlier could be standing before me now.

She smiled, taking a step toward me. "It's you," she said, her voice tinged with awe. "I wondered if you were real."

I climbed the porch steps slowly, vaguely aware of Edward standing on the sidewalk behind me. "I don't understand…" I said in confusion. "How can it be?" I stopped abruptly and I got a better look at the woman in front of me. The resemblance to Maggie was uncanny, but at second glance I saw her nose was slightly longer, her lips a touch fuller.

"I'm Mary," she said finally, with a gentle smile. "Maggie Oleson was my great-grandmother. I know there's a bit of a family resemblance," she added wryly.

"You look just like her," I replied, still a little unsettled by the encounter.

She took another step toward me. "I know it's impossible, but…you're Bella, aren't you?"

My mouth dropped open in amazement. "How do you know me?"

Her eyes flashed over my shoulder. "God. That's him…Edward." She looked back at me in amazement. "It's really you, isn't it? I can't believe it. We've waited so long."

I shook my head slightly to clear it. "I don't understand. You've waited…for me?"

Mary smiled. "It's kind of a long story. Maybe you'd both like to come inside?"

I turned toward Edward, shrugging in response to his questioning glance. He moved to my side. "Are you all right?" he asked, quietly enough so Mary couldn't hear him. I knew that above and beyond Mary's strange comments, he was worried about whether being in an enclosed space with a human would be too much temptation. I just nodded at him reassuringly before turning to follow Mary into the house.

She led us into the living room, motioning toward a brown leather sofa. "Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"

I thanked her, but refused. "How do you know me?" I asked, curiosity winning out over politeness.

Mary sighed heavily. "Let me get my mother. She can explain it better than me, I think," she said. She turned to head up the stairs, saying she'd be right back. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned to Edward.

"This is really weird," I said quietly.

Edward chuckled. "Well, weird is kind of relative in our situation, wouldn't you say?"

"Good point." I looked up as Mary came down the stairs with an older woman who I assumed was her mother. She, too, looked like Maggie, only with a few more wrinkles at the edges of her eyes and mouth. A huge smile split her face when she saw us sitting on the couch and she rushed over excitedly, grasping my hands and staring at me intently. She jumped slightly at the feel of my icy skin, but said nothing about it, instead turning back to Mary.

"I can't believe it," she breathed. Mary just grinned in response, walking over to take a seat on a rust-colored chair to the right of the sofa. Her mother blinked at me for a moment before releasing my hands and moving to a matching chair on the other side.

"I know this must seem strange to you," she said finally.

"That's putting it mildly," I replied with a grin.

She laughed, her eyes twinkling so much like Maggie's used to. "Perhaps I should start at the beginning," she said. "I'm Mary's mother. My name is Miriam Graham. Maggie was my grandmother."

"I'm Bella," I replied, taking Edward's hand. "This is Edward. But I understand you already know that."

Miriam nodded. "You do look a little different from your picture," she said, turning to her daughter. "Mary, get the box."

Mary got up and walked to a chest of drawers near the kitchen doorway. She pulled open a drawer, retrieving a wooden box, a little bigger than a shoe box.

Miriam continued, "My gran had one daughter in 1921 – my mother, Mary. I named my own daughter after her." She smiled at Mary as she handed her the box. "Gran passed before my Mary was born. Mom died about ten years ago.

"Gran used to say she had a bit of the sight," Miriam explained. She swept her hand absently across the gleaming lid of the box as she spoke. "She told us – my mother, and then me – that one day you'd come here and we should give you this.

"There were many times over the years that we doubted what Gran told us, but none of us could bear to get rid of the box. We've all looked through it over the years – Mary more than any of us," she added with a smile at her daughter.

"I just loved the story," Mary interjected, a dreamy look on her face. "How you came here to find Edward…to save his life. Then, when he died, you just vanished into thin air. Gran always said she knew you two were together somewhere, though." She looked at Edward, then back at me. "She insisted that you'd found a way, although none of us knew how. It was all so romantic and mysterious."

"And now, ninety years later, here you are," Miriam added. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but…how?"

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. I felt Edward take my hand before he answered quietly, "To be completely honest, we're not exactly sure how."

Between the two of us, we told them an abbreviated version of my story, explaining how I'd come through time to find Edward only to be reunited with him in the present. How he had no memory of our time together in the past, but how, despite that, it had brought us back together. We left out the part about the existence of vampires, for obvious reasons.

Mary studied Edward intently. "So you were actually born in 1901?" she asked.

Edward nodded.

"But you don't look a hundred and nine years old," she pointed out.

Edward shrugged. "I can't really explain that part. Suffice it to say I waited a long time to be reunited with Bella."

Both Miriam and her daughter were silent for a long moment, looking back and forth between Edward and me as if trying to solve a puzzle. Unfortunately, for their own safety, it wasn't one we could help them solve.

Finally, Miriam spoke up quietly. "Gran used to say, 'No matter what stands between them, two hearts once joined will find their way back together eventually. Time and distance are no match for love.' I used to think she was talking about her and Gramps. Now I think she was talking about you."

Edward lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it softly. Both Miriam and Mary followed the movement with small smiles on their faces.

Miriam stood and approached me, holding out the wooden box. "This belongs to you," she said. "I know Gran would be thrilled to know you finally got it back." I took the box from her, trailing my fingers over the warm inlaid wood. Unable to control my curiosity, I flipped open the top of the box, gasping when I saw its contents.

Maggie had kept my things. My mementos of my time in 1918…my time with Edward.

On top was the framed photograph of Edward and me at our wedding that I'd kept on my dresser. I couldn't hold back my smile at the look on his face, so joyful and eager, just as I remembered. I handed it to Edward and he studied it for a moment.

"This is how you knew us," he said to Miriam, and she nodded.

I smiled, feeling a heaviness in my chest as I pulled out one treasure after another – the silk purse I'd bought when I first came to Chicago, still with a handful of coins inside…the lace handkerchief Edward's mother had loaned me for the "something borrowed" at my wedding. She'd died before I could return it. The pearl necklace Edward gave me on our wedding day. The silver hair combs Samantha had given me…the blue garters I'd worn under my wedding dress. I smiled as I handed them to Edward, realizing this was truly the first time he'd actually seen them.

I told the story behind each item as I revealed it, a little embarrassed at sharing some of the more private ones with Miriam and Mary, but so grateful that they'd kept my belongings I couldn't keep the information from them.

"We kept your car for years," Miriam told Edward at one point. "Gran really fought us when Dad wanted to sell it, but she finally gave in. I've kept track of it, though. A collector in Michigan bought it in 1962. He donated it to a museum in Detroit when he passed away, if you'd like to see it sometime."

Edward nodded, thanking her for the information as he looked through the little pile of remembrances in front of him. I turned back to the box.

There was only one item left – a silver disk gleaming dully on the red velvet lining…a chain curled lazily around it. Unsheddable tears gathered in my throat as I lifted it reverently.

"This is yours," I said to Edward softly as I handed him his pocket watch. His eyes flashed to mine briefly before returning to the watch. He took it from me tentatively, smiling as he flipped open the lid.

"I gave that to you for your birthday," I told him. I was aware of Miriam and Mary leaving the room quietly, as if realizing we needed a moment alone. It appeared at least a portion of Maggie's vision had been passed on to her descendants.

Edward read the inscription under his breath. "To Edward…with all my love, Bella. Beyond Time." He smiled at me. "That seems appropriate."

I laughed lightly, laying my head on his shoulder as I watched his fingers brush over the watch. "Yes. Even more than I thought when I gave it to you the first time."

"It's a poem, isn't it?" Edward asked, beginning to quote quietly.

"Swept up on love's wing...
Above the trees, conquering fate, beyond time
Soaring, spinning, dipping low to rise again,

Fingertips brushing the stars
Trembling, electrified, breathing in passion, exhaling lust
Clinging desperately...
Lest I come crashing back to earth, broken and bleeding
Forever lost."

"How did you know that?" I turned to him in surprise.

Edward pressed a kiss to my forehead as he clicked the watch closed. "I'm not exactly sure," he replied, looking off into the distance as he searched his memories. "I heard it somewhere along the way and I guess it just stuck with me."

I smiled, wondering if it was possible that Edward had held on to that one memory…my words to him from so long ago. I couldn't be sure, of course, that he actually remembered it. It was possible that he'd found the poem in a book sometime over the years. Still, with his inerrant vampire memory, he'd know where he heard it if that was the case. I liked the idea that Edward still had something of our life together…a memory that clung to him even though the fever claimed the rest.

"We should go," Edward murmured, pocketing the watch and placing the rest of the items back into the box. "You need to hunt, and I think it's time for us to head home."

I nodded, kissing him softly and handing him the box before we stood and walked toward the kitchen doorway in search of our hosts. They were sitting together at the kitchen table, and once again I was struck by the resemblance to my old friend.

"We need to be going," I told them as they stood to join us in the doorway. "I can't thank you enough for taking care of my things and returning them to me."

To my surprise, tears sprang to Miriam's eyes and she pulled me in a tight hug. I held my breath, startled by her sudden proximity and the wash of venom that filled my mouth. I felt Edward squeeze my hand and I squeezed back to let him know that I was all right. Patting Miriam's back gently with my other hand, I noticed Mary wiping away tears as well.

"Thank you," Miriam said heatedly. "You don't know what this means to us. After all these years, to know it was all real…it was true."

She pulled back, her hands still on my upper arms. "I wish Gran could have been here…she used to say you were like a daughter to her. I know she hoped to see you again, but she never doubted that you were where you were meant to be…with Edward."

I smiled as a surge of emotion swept through me. We said our goodbyes to Miriam and Mary, promising we'd come back to visit before we left.

Darkness had fully descended while we'd been inside, so Edward and I ran across the border, through Wisconsin and into Minnesota stopping briefly in search of our little cottage in Altoona, only to find it had been torn down, the entire block converted into a strip mall. We crossed Minnesota and stopped to hunt at Eagle Mountain in the northeast corner of the state. I was getting better at it – well, less messy at least. I was now usually able to hunt without ruining my clothes. It took less than half an hour for Edward to bring down a large moose, which he shared with me, then we descended on a small herd of deer. We were both very careful to avoid human contact while I was given over to my instincts. I hadn't had any mishaps, but didn't want to risk the possibility of one.

I drained my deer and Edward dragged the carcass under a large pile of brush before turning to me with a familiar look in his eye. I had found that the intensity of hunting…the bloodlust…was intricately entwined with our lust for each other. It was rare for us to return from a hunting trip without finding our release against a tree or a boulder, quick and fast…hard and desperate…often more than once before we were sated and were able to return home under some semblance of control.

I watched Edward darkly, my chest heaving as I swiped the remaining blood from my lips with the back of my hand. His eyes registered the movement, and he reached out in a flash, grabbing my wrist and pulling it to his mouth. His tongue darted out, licking the blood from my hand slowly as his eyes held mine captive. He yanked me against his chest and I reveled in the feeling of him taking me with no restraint…giving in completely to his wanting.

We didn't speak, lost in the animal side of our existence. Without warning, his lips took mine and his tongue plunged into my mouth, the taste of blood and Edward mingling in a heady combination. Growls and grunting filled the air, accented only by harsh breaths and the rustling of the leaves and crunching of ice under our feet. Edward pulled back, taking a deep breath to steady himself before reaching for my shirt and carefully unbuttoning it. There had been several times we'd given in to the passion and ended up running home with missing buttons and broken zippers. Not that either of us minded, but when Alice or, God forbid, Emmett, saw us coming home in that condition, we never heard the end of it.

Once we'd been relieved of our clothes, we came together again – skin against skin…mouth against mouth…tongue entwined with tongue in blessed relief. I was vaguely aware of snowflakes beginning to drift down around us as Edward grasped my ass, pulling me against him as I wrapped my legs around his waist. His erection slid between my legs – so near yet so far from where I wanted it – and I writhed against him, my body begging for his.

I dragged my nails across his shoulders, my teeth sinking lightly into his neck in silent demand. With a feral growl, Edward spun me around, slamming me back against a large pine tree that cracked at the impact. I gasped as he entered me in one powerful stroke, the familiar feeling of completion…of rightness sweeping through my body.

I clung to him, his name escaping my lips on a loud groan as my head fell back against the tree. Edward lowered his head to my neck, licking and nipping at my skin in rhythm with his increasingly demanding thrusts. I arched to meet him, wanting him deeper…harder…more…always more.

There was no buildup. No slow climb to an aching peak. No sweet tension in my muscles leading to a blissful release. Instead, my climax slammed into me unexpectedly, wave after wave of shocking pleasure shooting from my center as I screamed into the snowy wilderness. A moment later, Edward arched back, pressing further into me as I felt his release pulsing deep within me. The sensation sent yet another shuddering orgasm rippling through my body. I clutched at his shoulders, grinding our hips together as the pleasure spiked sharply before drifting away into blissful satiation.

Edward turned and sank to the snowy ground, leaning back against the tree and drawing me gently against his chest. I sighed contentedly at the feel of his skin against my cheek, smiling at the snow piling up around and on top of us, our skin not warm enough to cause it to melt. He didn't pull out of me, apparently as unwilling as I was for the moment to come to an end as we sat wrapped around each other in the silent forest.

"We're going to be covered before long," I mumbled, shaking my head to dislodge the flakes clinging to my hair.

"I don't care." Edward's low voice rumbled in his chest as he held me tightly to him. His lips pressed to the top of my head as he shifted his hips slightly. I could feel him hardening again already, and I knew it would be a matter of moments before Round Two.

The thought had me smiling. I gazed at my engagement ring, absently rotating it around my finger as I pondered our future.

Later – and if Edward were any indication, it would be much later – we'd return to the family in Alaska. Perhaps we'd go through Canada this time. Edward had told me about a mountain peak that had become a favorite spot of his, and he wanted to show it to me.

Charlie would join us for Christmas. It would mark the first time I'd actually seen him in person since my transformation. I'd talked to him on the phone and even got him and Renee both Web cams so we could Skype, but I was looking forward to finally seeing him. We'd spent Thanksgiving with Renee in Jacksonville and all had gone smoothly. She'd been surprised by the changes in my appearance, of course, but I reassured her that I was fine and happy and in love, and she quickly adapted. I felt confident my time with Charlie would be just as positive.

My parents loved me, and I knew they'd support me in anything. I was determined we would get through this. After everything I'd been through, one thing I'd learned was to appreciate the people around me while I had them…because I knew the time would be short.

I didn't want to waste a second.

In time, Edward and I would go to college. He was adamant about Dartmouth. Charlie thought we were already there, and Edward often used that to his advantage, saying it would be less of a lie if I ended up attending the Ivy league school eventually.

I, however, was keeping my options open.

Our wedding would be small and intimate – and I had to admit I was looking forward to the event and sharing it with my family and friends. Edward was surprisingly patient with me, since – technically – we were already married anyway.

We were still talking about where it would happen. If the Quileutes lightened up enough to allow us to come back to Forks, maybe we'd get married in the Cullens' house or the back yard. If not, we'd talked about Chicago, or maybe Alaska. Perhaps in the spring or the summer of the following year…maybe the fall.

My smile widened as Edward stirred beneath me, his hand drifting to my breast and squeezing gently.

There was no rush.

After all, we had all the time in the world.

The End

A/N: Some readers have been asking what I'll be writing next. At this point, I do not have plans for a sequel to Beyond Time, although I'm not ruling out an outtake or two if the mood and the right idea hits. I will be going back to finish Just One of the Boys first, then I have a couple of story ideas I'm going back and forth between. One is more of a light romantic comedy…the other leans more toward action/thriller (w/romance as well, of course). I just have to decide which way I want to go. Be sure and put me on author alert or follow me on Twitter (Tkegl) if you'd like to see what's next.

Voting is now open in the Rare Gem Awards: Beyond Time is nominated in five categories, and Just One of the Boys in one. Check it out here: thesparkleteerawards . blogspot . com and vote for your favorite stories. Voting ends December 1st.

My entry in The Cherry Exchange contest is Sex Tips & Star Trek. You can read it here: www . fanfiction . net/s/6467116/1/Sex_Tips_Star_Trek and all the entries here: www . fanfiction . net/u/2530160/The_Cherry_Exchange. Voting begins December 5th.

I've entered some banners in the TwiFicPics Pick a Pic Challenge. Go pick a banner and write a one-shot to enter the one-shot contest! If you don't want to write, vote on the banner contest starting January 8th. More info can be found here: twificpics . com.

Finally, thanks to the lovely SparklingWand, who interviewed me for her Author Spotlight on SparklingWand's Much Ado About Nothing. The link is on my profile if you'd like to check it out.

Thanks again for reading – and hopefully we'll talk again soon!