SM Owns Twilight

EP 2

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September 13th of the following year

Bella's bakery opening was scheduled to be the biggest event to hit the town of Forks in in the last decade. They were scheduled to open at nine o'clock the next morning, and if Bella had anything to say about it, her staff would have been preparing for the opening.

Instead, her new staff and her old staff decided to throw Bella a birthday party, inviting all of the important people in her life.

Bella stood in a corner, observing all of the people in the room. Charlie and Billy were in one corner of the room, having a conversation with Jacob. The pack sat around several tables, inhaling food. Her new staff—Emily, Kim, and Rachel (who would have known that hell would freeze over so soon?) mingled with her old staff—Zack, Lily, and Molly. Sue was sitting at a table with Renee, Phil, Mrs. Baker, and Alex. They had all flown in just for the occasion.

Emily caught Bella in the corner by herself and excused herself to go and drag her best friend away from the corner and into the room.

"It's your birthday party, Bella. Stop standing in the corner and mingle with your guests. We're going to cut the cake soon, but we're waiting on one thing."

"What?" Bella asked, just as the door to the bakery opened.

"Your VIP guests," Emily whispered as the Cullens entered the bakery. Bella looked over towards Jacob, who winked at her. She ran over to them and thew herself at Esme.

"Happy Birthday, Bella," Esme whispered, hugging her.

"I'm so happy you're all here," Bella said as she untangled herself from Esme and turned to Carlisle.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Carlisle said as he hugged her.

Emmett ruffled her hair, and said,

"Sorry we're late. I was afraid there would be, you know, customers here," he said with a horrified expression.

Rosalie smiled and wished her a happy birthday.

XXX

Bella blushed as all of her well-wishers sang Happy Birthday to her. She looked around the room, reveling in all of the love and happiness she had been blessed with.

This, right here, this is what Edward had always wanted her to have; friends, family, love, and happiness. She thought about him a lot, especially today. After all, her eighteenth birthday had changed everything for her. Then she thought about Alice and Jasper, their unique relationship that made them click; his quiet demeanor, and her exuberant personality. Sometimes, she really wished to be dragged out of work to go on a shopping spree.

Bella remembered the words in Alice's letter; though they weren't here physically, they'd always be in her heart.

Jacob took an obscene amount of pictures as she cut the cake. Seth videotaped everything, cheering her on as she tried to blow out all of the candles in one breath.

She didn't succeed.

"Old age, Bells, comes with the territory," Charlie joked.

After everyone had their share of cake—excluding the Cullens, which disappointed some pack members who made bets on whether or not the Cullens would eat human food again, the party died down as people started to head home.

"Bella, we have to get going. It's Marie's bed time in a few minutes," Emily said, hugging Bella.

"Give her a kiss from me. I'll see you tomorrow," Bella said.

Emily and Sam had a beautiful baby daughter, Marie. Sue almost had a heart attack when she saw the baby for the first time, because Marie's eyes were just like Leah's.

Bella remembered Leah's ominous words in the letter she left behind, 'As for Sam and Emily, well karma is a bitch, and they will suffer in the end. I know it.'

They all secretly hoped that little Marie would grow up to be much more pleasant.

One by one, the pack, , Alex, Lily and Embry (still together), Molly and Zack (on the verge of getting engaged), Kim (living happily ever after with Jared), and Rachel (now in a serious, committed relationship with Paul), all left the party, wishing her a happy birthday.

The only people left were the Cullens, Jake, Renee, Phil, Charlie, Billy, and Sue. Esme and Carlisle were speaking with Charlie and Renee. Bella overheard Charlie asking about Alice, and she smiled when she realized she wasn't the only one missing her best friend.

Bella laughed when she realized that Seth had stayed behind to hang out with Emmett. She walked over to them, sitting down in the chair that Emmett had just pulled out for her.

"I missed you guys. Where have you been? I haven't seen or heard from you in months," Bella complained.

"We split up for a while, trying to track down some of our friends," Emmett replied. "One of us has always been around Washington, while the others were out, but we're trying to get the word out.

"What word?" Seth asked, confused.

"Well, we just don't trust the Volturi. I'm sure you've noticed an increase in vampire activity in the Olympic Peninsula, so we're trying to find out if they're just nomads passing through, or something more serious. So, we decided to get them all cell phones and put them in our plan, and told them to call us if they hear anything, or see anything strange. You know, a little heads up would be nice if the Volturi are involved."

"Huh. I guess I never realized most vampires don't carry around cell phones," Seth commented.

"HA!" Emmet exclaimed, "You should have seen how we tried to explain to them how to use it. I mean, we're pretty intelligent, but still, if you've wandered around the earth for hundreds of years, staying the woods all the time, you're still going to have some issues with modern technology. They picked it up pretty quickly."

"That's one phone bill I'd like to see," Seth joked.

"Emmett, I was wondering if you would be interested in working for me?" Bella asked in her most serious expression.

Emmett stared at Bella like she had lost her mind.

"Bella, I would put you out of business because I would kill all of your annoying customers...which would be all of them," he replied seriously.

Bella and Seth roared in laughter.

Carlisle walked over the table, ruffling Bella's hair.

"Seth, can I speak to you for a moment? I have something for you," he said.

"Sure, Dr. Cullen," Seth replied eagerly as he got out of his chair.

They made their way to the kitchen to speak in private.

"Before Alice left, she told me about your request to find out about your sister. I've had some people look into it, and I have something for you," he said as he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Seth.

Seth was speechless for once.

"Oh, wow, Dr. Cullen, thank you so much."

"My pleasure, Seth. I'll leave you to look at what's inside," he said with a smile.

Seth tore open the envelope to look at the single piece of paper with all of the relevant information on it.

Leah was living in New Mexico, attending college, and was living with her boyfriend, a member of the Navajo tribe. There was a post-it on the bottom, from the private investigator that said "She looks really happy."

Seth whipped out his cell phone, dialing the phone number.

"Hello?"

Seth exhaled at the sound of his sister's voice.

"Hello?"

"Leah, it's me, Seth." He heard her inhale sharply. "Look, I just wanted to hear your voice. You don't have to talk to me. Um, I just wanted you to have my number, just in case, you know..." he mumbled hastily as he read off his cell phone number. "Um, okay, that's it. Bye, Leah," he said as she hung up.

Leah stared at the post-it with Seth's number written on it. She felt stupid for writing it down in the first place. Perhaps she should just tear it up and throw it away.

She was about to tear it up when she did something unexpected.

Leah opened her drawer and placed the post-it at the bottom of the drawer.

'Just in Case.'

XXX

Alice,

It's my birthday and I'm having a party. The bakery is opening tomorrow. I know you told Carlisle what needed to be done for the house and bakery, and I want to let you know that you did a great job. I miss you, Jasper, and Edward.

Bella shut the journal and put it away. She had started writing journals, just as Edward had, to keep track of her life, writing down all of the important moments (which were photographed and videotaped as well). Whenever Alice, Jasper, and Edward returned, they could see and read what she had done with her life.

XXX

The Cullens left soon after, promising to visit her in a few weeks. They were followed by Renee, Phil, Sue, and Seth.

Bella found it odd that Billy and Charlie were still hanging around the bakery.

"Beat it, old man!" Jacob joked as he pushed his father's wheelchair to the door. "It's past your bed time."

Bella laughed at the look on Billy and Charlie's face when they were ushered out of the bakery by Jacob.

"Finally!" he exclaimed, shutting the door behind him. "I never thought I'd get you alone," he said as he swept her up in his signature bear hug. "Happy Birthday, Bells," he whispered before leaning down to kiss her luscious lips.

Bella held his face in her hands as she kissed him like she had wanted to all night. Jacob released her lips, chuckling.

"What's so funny?" she asked, disappointed that he broke off the kiss.

"I have a present for you," he whispered, kissing her nose.

"Does it involve us going upstairs to the bedroom?" she asked seductively.

Jacob laughed.

"That's part two of my present. This is part one," he said as he let go of her and walked over to retrieve a package from underneath the counter.

He set it down in front of her and walked to the other side of the counter, waiting for her to open it.

Bella leaned towards him to kiss him before opening it.

She opened the box to find a small wooden box with an intricately carved design on the lid.

"It's a jewelry box," Jacob commented as he pointed to the carvings on the lid. There was a wolf standing next to a girl with long hair, and sitting in front of them were three little children.

Bella understood the meaning of the carvings, and looked up at him, smiling through her tears.

"It's beautiful, Jacob," she whispered.

"Open it," he insisted.

She lifted the lid of the box to find...a diamond ring.

Now she understood why Jacob had been working late nights and doing extra odd jobs around Forks and La Push over the past few months. It was to get her this.

Bella chewed on her lip, staring at the ring and understanding what it represented. She remembered hating the idea of marriage, and not wanting to go through with her wedding to Edward. Yet, now, years later, the thought of being Bella Black warmed her heart.

She realized she never cared for marriage—until now. Jacob was the only one she would ever really want to say yes to.

Bella looked up at him, his eyes light and happy, a small, amused smile stretching over his face.

"You don't have to say yes," he whispered, "I'll still spend the rest of my life with you..."

"Ask me," she ordered.

"Marry me," he said reaching for the ring.

Bella rolled her eyes at him.

"That wasn't a question."

Jacob chuckled.

He reached for her hand and made her walk around the counter to stand in front of him.

"Well, if you're going to be so formal and difficult about it," he murmured before bending down on one knee.

He looked up at her, and Bella saw nothing but pure love and devotion in his eyes.

"Will you marry me, Bells?" he asked in the tenderest of voices.

"Yes," she whispered back. Jacob put the ring on her finger—where it would stay, not for eternity, but for the rest of her human life.

He stood up and grabbed her face, kissing his fiance with all the love and adoration he could muster up.

"WOOAAH! YES! YES! YES!" Charlie screamed as he wheeled Billy into the bakery, followed by Sue, Renee, and Phil.

Billy whistled as the rest of their guests clapped at the scene in front of them.

"They were spying on us...they didn't think I'd get the job done," Jacob whispered in Bella's ear.

After the congratulations went around, Renee and Sue immediately went into wedding mode, making Bella miss Alice even more. Charlie and Billy couldn't wait to take their future grandchildren out on Charlie's damn boat.

Eventually, the excited parents left, and Jacob carried his Bella upstairs so he could make love to his fiancee all night long.

XXX

They married in the following year. It was a beach wedding, and Jacob personally invited the Cullens to attend, knowing how important it would be for Bella.

Bella has just finished showering when she entered her room to find Rosalie sitting in her rocking chair with a small smile on her face.

"What are you doing here, Rosalie?" Bella asked, surprised to see her here. She expected her to attend the wedding, of course, but she didn't know why she was at Charlie's house so early in the morning.

"If Alice was here, she would be doing this for you, so I hope you don't mind if I help you get ready for your wedding," she offered. "Hopefully, Alice 'see' you in your wedding dress, and Edward will be able to see you as well," she said sadly. Rosalie missed her brothers and sisters, though she found it to difficult to express her feelings.

Alice would have been proud of Rosalie's work. Bella looked breathtakingly beautiful.

After Rosalie left, Bella stood in front of her mirror for the first time since Rosalie finished helping her get ready.

She closed her eyes and said a silent thank you to Alice, Jasper, and Edward for giving her this day.

XXX

Alice was in her room watching Jasper and Edward play chess when the vision hit.

Bella was starting to walk down the aisle on her father's arm as Wagner's march played; she was dressed in white, a radiant smile appearing on her flushed face as she stared off into the distance.

"She's getting married today," Alice whispered sadly. She walked over to Edward and sat next to him, laying her head on his shoulder.

Edward remembered having this vision before. He was in high school, and Mike Newton had just asked Bella to ask him to the dance. Bella hesitated, and Edward saw what her future would be like if he left her alone. He recalled the pain he felt at the moment, and it came back today, feeling a thousand times worse.

Jasper fell to the floor under the power of Edward's pain.

'It will be like I never existed,' he had once said to her. As he watched Bella in Alice's mind, it made him think that statement was absolutely true.

Alice, who had been comforting Jasper, seemed to know what he was thinking.

"Edward, you were her first love. She will carry you with her for the rest of her life. Don't forget that she spent five years of her life with you. You always wanted this for her, remember?" Alice asked, concerned that Edward would fall into a deeper level of self-loathing than he was already in.

Edward shook his head and got a hold of his emotions.

Alice was right.

"This is the way it's supposed to be. He was always the better man."

Someone knocked on the door, bringing them back to their present circumstances.

It was time to report for duty.

'Be Happy, Bella' Edward wished as he walked out the door.

XXX