A/N: Here it is.. the last regular chapter... its been an amazing ride!

To Dawn, Sandy, Mandi & Nikki- thank you! To Pixiekat.. I've learned soo much... and I fluv you hard for it!

ENJOY!

Ch 51

EPOV

4 Months Later

I walked up the stairs to the front door not really noticing that Bella was standing there waiting for me. In my defense, my head was filled with my latest job interview. With school already in session, I knew finding a full time teaching gig would be difficult. After I'd passed the North Carolina teaching licensure test I hit the pavement hard looking for a job. Problem was, I was a bit behind. I'd to wait to take the test and then wait for the results, leaving me with little job opportunities as most openings had been filled. So I was going to Plan B, interviewing for substitute positions.

But all of my worry over jobs faded away when I noticed the beaming smile Bella wore. She was practically hopping up and down with in excitement. It was then that I realized she was trying to hide an envelope behind her back. I laughed and gave her a smirk.

Baby, you have no poker face!

"You passed?" I asked.

She frowned just a bit.

"Not fair, Edward. You ruined my surprise" She tried to pout, but the slight grin on her face gave her away.

"I can't help it if your face gave it all away!" To keep her from pouting over her inability to surprise me, I swept her up in my arms and spun her around. After I set her down I took the letter she held out and read her congratulations on passing her licensure test.

"Congratulations, love!" I captured her lips with mine and poured all my love and happiness into the kiss. Pulling apart, I laid my forehead on hers and gazed into her bright brown eyes. "How shall we celebrate you becoming a hygienist?"

The glint in her eyes told me there was only one way she wanted to commemorate this event.

"Are you sure, Bella?"

She he rolled her eyes as she gave me a small shove. "We've been talking about this for months, Edward. Did you forget it was my idea? I want to do this. I need to do it."

I searched her face for any hesitation, when I found none, I nodded my consent.

"Now?" she asked hopefully.

I could only smile and nod. "Now."

With a little yelp, she ran to put on shoes and grabbed her sweater before bounding down the steps.

"Come on, Edward! Don't be a slowpoke!"

The entire drive into downtown Wilmington, Bella vibrated in her seat. Her excitement swirled around us in the car. I tried to get her to eat beforehand, but the glare she gave me said she wouldn't stand for any delays. When we pulled up in front of the faded brick building, I laughed as Bella tore out of the car before I had it all the way in park.

With one hand in mine, Bella used her other hand to yank open the door and pull us through it. The door chimed as we walked in and the familiar sights and sounds filled my senses. But it wasn't the things going on around me I was focused on, it was the beautiful girl besides me who had a shit eating grin on her face.

"Welcome to Ink It, I'm Angie, what can I do for you two?" We both spun toward the sound to see a very tiny, but heavily inked up lady. Her short hair was dyed pink, black and electric blue and she had the friendliest smile which made it easier to not be put off by her outwardly appearance.

"We both want to get tattoos!" Bella was so excited she was practically vibrating with anticipation. All I could do was laugh at her exuberance.

Angie laughed at Bella. "You've come to the right place. From the looks of you, I take it you're celebrating?"

"Yes," exclaimed Bella. When her voice echoed in the small shop, her face flushed a bright pink. "We both passed our state licensure tests."

"Congrats! I think getting a tatt will be a perfect way to celebrate. Are you going to get something to represent your chosen field?"

I shook my head. "Nope, we have something even better in mind."

"Well, come on over to my drawing board and tell me what you want."

After a short explanation of what we wanted, Angie whipped up a rather simple, but beautiful design, one that we both loved.

"So, who's going first?" She looked between the two of us and before I could volunteer, Bella stepped forward.

"Me, I want to go first." She looked over at me, eyes wide. "Is that okay with you, babe?"

I shrugged. "I'm fine with it if you are."

"I am. If I go first there's no time for me to psych myself out of doing it while watching you get yours."

Angie chuckled. "Makes sense. Well, come with me."

We followed her to the back where there were tattoo stations set up. Angie motioned to her chair and I watched as Bella hopped right onto it.

An overwhelming urge swept over me to make sure she was 100% certain she wanted the tattoo. "You're sure about this, it's permanent."

Her only response was to kiss me. She lowered her yoga pants to expose the hip she had chosen at the site for her first tatt. Quickly and efficiently, Angie worked to prep the area and place the stencil. When it was centered exactly where she wanted it, Bella silently nodded to Angie who fired up her gun. I held Bella's hand as the ink was forever etched onto her skin. With each mark the gun made, my love for her grew ten-fold. When Angie was finished, Bella looked up at me with tears in her eyes and I couldn't help but kiss her.

"Enough, enough! No making out in my chair."

We pulled apart laughing as a slight blush covered our cheeks. Angie pointed at me and motioned to the chair. "Your turn, sit, now."

"Yes, ma'am!" I pulled off my shirt and handed it to Bella who watched as Angie made her preparations.

When the first buzz of the gun sounded, I felt Bella take my hand in hers. Not because I needed comfort from the pain, but because we both needed the connection. The design we'd decided to get was personal both of us, and it was what brought us back to each other.

"You know, I need to ask the story behind this," stated Angie as she finished the last few details on the tattoo that now rested over my heart. "Anything but mine," she read.

I looked in the mirror to admire her handiwork, my eyes roamed over the words that had become so important to Bella and me. Words that we both now had permanently inked on our bodies.

"I said those words to her in a letter that brought us back together after a long separation. I'd told her that I didn't see how she could ever be anything but mine." I looked at Bella, who had the shine of tears in her eyes.

"And the cherry blossom?" asked Angie.

"A symbol of life and reminder that life's too short to live with regrets," replied Bella.

Angie smile and nodded at Bella's explanation. She finished smearing my tatt with salve and wrapping it before regarding us both intently. "I've been doing this for many years and I haven't seen tatts with such heartfelt meaning as theses in a very long time. I wish you both the best of luck."

"Thanks," we replied simultaneously with matching smiles on our faces. After we walked out the door, I pulled off to the side of the shop and wrapped Bella up in my arms.

"You know I love you, right?" I looked deep into her eyes, trying to convey the depth of my feelings.

She nodded as her hand cupped my cheek. "I do and you know I love you, too." She regarded me seriously. "Marcus would've liked the tatts."

I laughed, amazed that she knew what was going through my mind better than I did. "Yeah, he would've approved right after giving me shit for picking a girlie flower to represent him."

That made her giggle and we headed for home and our new beginning.

A/N: A few of you guys guessed that they were going to get tats... soo smart you are! The epis will post on Monday and Thursday! Until then... give me your thoughts.. I love to hear them!