Epilogue

The locals thought we were some sort of cult. That was fine by me, and it made all of us laugh. We were inhabiting a small island just off the coast of Nova Scotia. Carlisle ferried back and forth to the main land and served as the local doctor. He was the only one they seemed to trust, although not even he was exempt from the gossip surrounding our family.

I liked the island. Nobody bothered us. We could live in peace and no one asked too many questions about why none of us were in school. All of us had had enough of high school for a while.

I stood on the shore of the far side of the island and laughed lightly as the morning sun fell on my face. It was nice to enjoy the warmth without fear of exposure. Today we would get a surprise. Alice couldn't say for sure who would be visiting us because she couldn't see them. Which, of course, could only mean that at least one of our guests would be a wolf.

Carlisle, Esme and Alice had left earlier in the morning in the boat to go to the mainland to wait for our visitors and to purchase some human food for them in the mean time. I had just made up my mind to go back to the house when I heard Edward calling me from the dock. My stomach flipped in anticipation. They must have arrived!

I ran to the other side of the island. In my haste to see them I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and barreled straight into Jasper.

"Easy, Bella!" he laughed at me as we untangled ourselves. I couldn't help laughing too. Being a vampire for more than a decade had done nothing to improve my coordination. Jasper offered his hand and helped me to my feet.

After I brushed myself off, Jasper and I quickly, although more cautiously this time, continued on to the dock. I beamed as I saw group of four awaiting us.

I first saw Meg. She waved to me with a huge grin spread across her face. Her dark hair had been pulled back in a pony tail and she was helping her son out of the boat. Jacob William Black, who went by his middle name, swatted her hands away with the standard annoyance of a ten-year-old. Standing shyly behind him in the boat a girl of about four clung to her mother's side.

"Jenny," Leah said gently to the girl. "Do you remember Auntie Bella?" The girl shook her head and Leah laughed. "Yes, you do! You were talking about her the whole way up here, remember? She's the one that put Uncle Seth in a headlock the last time we saw them."

"Hi, Jenny," I said grinning.

I thought I saw the girl smile, but she ducked her head behind her mother's leg so quickly it was hard to tell.

Leah sighed. "You know how shy kids can be. Carlisle, would you help me out of this boat?"

Carlisle obliged, and when she stepped out I plainly saw the change in her physique, although it wasn't pronounced yet.

"Leah!" I gasped. "Are you pregnant again?"

"Oh, you saw that, did you?" she smiled. "Yeah, I am. I think it's going to be a boy, but Matt said he wouldn't mind having another girl."

A year after our encounter with the Volturi, Leah decided to go to college. In her third year she met Matt Hunter, and the Quileutes learned that not only male werewolves can imprint. On her wedding day, Leah gave up the ability to shape shift for good, and a year and a half later Jenny was born.

"Where is Matt?" I asked. Carlisle was lifting Jenny out of the boat. Will had refused help from Meg, but accepted it from Edward when he came over.

"Oh, he's back home. He wanted to come up, but he had too many papers to grade. I told him if he didn't want to grade them he shouldn't have assigned them in the first place."

"Maybe he'll listen to you next time," Rosalie said. I hadn't even heard her walk up beside me. "Men never seem to know what's best for them unless you tell them."

"You got that right, Rose!" Leah grinned. "Jenny, why don't you go say hi to Aunt Rosalie?"

"Hi," the girl said shyly.

"Hello, beautiful!" Rosalie beamed at the child.

"You're sparkly," Jenny said. Rosalie laughed.

"If you ask Aunt Rosalie really nicely, I bet she'd take you down to the shore to look for seashells," Leah said.

"Would you like that?" Rosalie asked. Jenny nodded. Rosalie took her by the hand and led her to the beach.

Alice and Jasper were quietly talking to Meg. I would let them catch up before I went to talk to her. Although visits were too infrequent for my liking, she had become almost family. Without even thinking about it, my eyes found Edward. He was play-wresting with Will, and letting him win.

"Did Seth come up?" I asked Leah.

She sighed. "Yes, but Emmett practically ambushed us when we got here. He wanted someone to go bear hunting with him."

I grinned. "Yeah, that makes sense. We just hunted a few days ago, but Emmett never seems to be able to get enough of those irritable grizzlies!"

Leah laughed with me. "Well the two of them actually decided to swim to shore."

"How's Seth doing?"

"He's still… Seth! Annoying little brother and probably a wolf for life. I don't think he'd give it up even if he did imprint! And now, I don't mean to be rude, Bella, but I really have to pee."

"I'll show you where the restroom is," Esme chimed. And while we're up at the house I'll make some lunch for you all. I know you must be hungry, eating for two. Why don't we all make our way to the house."

"That sounds wonderful," said Meg. She seemed happy, and I was glad of it. "Come on, Will. You can wrestle with Edward later."

"Now?" he protested.

"Jacob William Black! Are you going to listen to me or do I have to come over there? Now come on!"

"Sure, sure," Will in a tone I recognized all too well. He got to his feet and followed his mother.

Everyone else began to make there way to the house. I started to, but Edward held me back. His arms circled my waist.

"This isn't fair," he said softly.

"What?"

"It isn't fair that we should get guests now, when you look so stunningly irresistible."

I smiled at the compliment and ran my hands along the smooth planes of his stomach. His hands pressed into my back and sent shivers of electricity throughout my body. I began to feel the tingling burn of desire.

"It would be rude to leave our guests, Edward," I gently chided. "We should just go up to the house like two well behave, civilized individuals."

My adrenaline began to flow through my body. Behaving like a civilized individual was just about the last thing I wanted to do at that point.

"What if I don't want you to go?" he murmured in my ear.

"Then maybe I'll have to run from you." My voice was a low purr.

"You know I'll catch you."

I gave in and attacked Edward with a passionate kiss. Our lips and tongues met and the battle began.

"Bella," Edward's voice was raspy with longing as he pulled away from me with effort. "It wouldn't be fair to our human guests if we hadn't properly fed. We should really find some deer or mountain lions or something before we go and see them."

I nodded in complete understanding. I treated him to one more deep kiss before I broke away from his mouth and ran from him. Within moments I had reached the water and was swimming to shore. In a few more moments I would reach the land.

I knew Edward would follow me, and I knew he would catch me. I was counting on it.

The hunt was on.

THE END

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