SM Owns Twilight
EP 4
XXX
"You have fulfilled your promise, dear Cullens," replied Aro, holding Edward's hand for a moment before dropping it quickly. He was unable to look into Edward's mind for it was filled with nothing but sorrowful images of his beloved: her last day on earth, his last conversation with her, the last kiss they shared, and finally, the last breath she took.
"Allow us to leave, Aro," Edward said turning towards his brother and sister. "We have fulfilled our promise."
"Yes, I know that, but it will be such a waste to lose your gift. Won't you consider remaining immortal?"
"I will be of no use to you. I cannot walk this earth knowing that she is gone." Aro studied the heartbroken expression on Edward's face.
"Very well, my young friend. What a tragedy this truly is. You are all excused, though I may call upon you two in the future," he said to Alice and Jasper.
Alice and Jasper nodded, though each one thought they'd rather be destroyed then ever set foot in this hellhole again.
"Such a waste, such a waste, such a waste..."
XXX
Before Edward returned to his home in Forks, he made a trip to La Push. He simply wanted to see Bella's descendants, to know that she had lived on in some form.
It was his lucky day, all of her great-grandchildren were waiting for him at the old Black house. Someone from his family must have called to let them know.
William Charles' grandson picked up the sweet scent and turned around to see Edward standing at the edge of the property. He waved for him to come forward.
The pack had been told this day would come.
"I just wanted to see you all, to see that Bella was alive in some way, that a part of her would continue on," Edward said sadly.
"Then why don't you stay alive so you can see her continue on in generations to come?" asked Sarah Renee's grandson.
"My end is here. It has been a punishment for me to have remained alive for the last decade, and I cannot take the pain anymore."
Jasper Masen's granddaughter made her way towards Edward.
"Our great-grandmother always loved you. She wrote in her journal that you had a beautiful soul and she was sure she would see you again, on the other side, with our great-grandfather."
"Thank you for telling me that," Edward replied. "I promise you that my family will leave the area so you don't have to worry about future generations phasing. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to contact them," he added.
Alice's great grandson approached Edward, his face set in a serious expression.
"Where would you like for this to happen, Edward?" he asked.
"In the trees behind Charlie Swan's old house. I will let you know when."
XXX
The Cullen family all gathered outside of the white house to welcome their long lost son and brother home. They knew this would be his last trip home.
Edward walked towards them at a human pace. Though he was relieved to be joining Bella, he was still devastated to know the impact this would have on his loved ones.
"Welcome home, son," Carlisle said, hugging his first companion in the immortal world.
"Thank you" Edward mumbled, hugging his father.
Esme was at a loss for words; out of all of her children, Edward was her favorite. She had gone through the pain of having almost lost him once, but there were no words to express her anguish right now. She hugged him tightly. Emmett and Jasper slapped him on the back, while Alice jumped at him and hugged her favorite brother. To his surprise, Rosalie stepped forward and hugged him.
"Edward, please join us for one last hunt," Carlisle pleaded, his voice breaking at the end. Edward read all of their minds, understanding that they needed these last moments with him. He had been gone for sixty-five years, only to return for a week before disappearing for another decade.
"Yes, of course. Emmett, Jasper...would you like to race?"
Emmett and Jasper smiled gravely, but nodded. One final race between the three brothers.
Alice counted them off.
"On your mark, get set, go!" Alice yelled as the three of them took off through the trees. Emmett and Jasper were hoping to run far enough away so Edward could have his favorite: mountain lion.
One last meal.
Edward decided to let Emmett win the face; it was only fair that Emmett finally got to beat him. Emmett knew Edward let him win on purpose, but was touched by the gesture.
They found a few mountain lions, and for the last time, Edward relished the speed, the thrill of the hunt, and the taste of the hot blood soothing down his throat.
A few hours later, the Cullens returned to the white house, not ready for Edward's final farewell.
XXX
"I'm sorry, Edward," Jasper whispered as they sat in the living room, playing chess. "If I hadn't lost control that day, you never would have left, and Bella wouldn't have chosen Jacob. She would be here, as a vampire, with you. I am the reason this is all happening. I can never forgive myself."
Edward could feel the regret, the grief, pouring out of Jasper.
Even though they spent the last seventy-five years together, Edward could never get Jasper to forgive himself for the events of that day. The man had sacrificed seventy-five years to protect Bella's human life, but still believed that he was the catalyst behind Bella's choice to stay human.
"Jasper, please. You can't sit here and tell me you think Bella would be better off as a vampire instead of having the life we were all deprived of?"
"I'm sorry, Edward, but I hope that I've done right by her."
"You have, Jasper. You have also done right by me. All I wanted for her was to live a safe, happy, human life. She did just that. So, please," he said, making the move that would allow Jasper to win, "forgive yourself."
He hugged his brother, thanking him for going to Volterra.
XXX
Carlisle and Esme stood behind Edward as he sat at the piano and played the song he wrote for them. He played it several times before playing Bella's lullaby. The song set his mind at ease.
When he finished playing, he turned to Esme, taking her hand and leading her outside to the garden.
"Esme, you have been the best mother I could have asked for. I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you, and the pain I'm about to cause you, but I can't live like this. I can't live without her. I've already lived ten years without her. She's waiting for me on the other side. I have to believe that."
Esme hugged her son and sobbed into his chest.
She remembered losing her son when she was human, but she never thought she'd have to go through it again in her immortal life.
"I love you, Edward."
"I love you too, Esme."
XXX
Edward didn't know what to say to Emmett, but Emmett didn't mind.
He grabbed Edward and gave him the biggest bear hug he could muster up. This was his goodbye. He couldn't say the words.
Then he turned around and ran away to his room.
There were just some things Emmett couldn't handle.
Saying goodbye to his first brother was one of them.
XXX
Rosalie stood across the room from Edward, letting him read her mind as she remembered all things 'Bella related'
"I'm sorry I valued her human life over your feelings for her, Edward."
"Don't be. You did the right thing, Rosalie. I thank you for it."
Edward turned to leave before Rosalie called him back.
He was her first sibling when she entered this life.
They never saw eye to eye, but she needed him to know that she truly loved him as a brother.
Rosalie hugged Edward goodbye before running to her room to console Emmett.
XXX
"I spent the last ten years reading Bella's journals, looking at her photographs, watching the videos. I know that we did the right thing by her."
Edward kissed his sister on the forehead.
"I'll miss you, Alice."
"I won't stop you, I can't," Alice said sadly. "I understand, Edward. I miss her too, so much, but she was the love of your existence. My pain cannot compare to yours. Just know that I love you so much, and I will miss you everyday."
She kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly.
"I can't get over losing Bella, even though I knew it would happen one day. We won't get over losing you, Edward."
"I'm sorry, Alice. For everything. I'm thankful that you were selfless enough to do what you did for the past seventy-five years so she could live a human life. I will always be grateful."
XXX
This was probably the most difficult goodbye for Edward.
Carlisle had been his creator, his father, his best friend. He had been with Edward since the beginning.
He knocked on the door to Carlisle's study.
"Come in, Edward,"
Edward stepped into the study to see Carlisle standing at the window, his back towards him.
"I know what you must do, son, but there are no words to express my anguish at the thought of losing you."
"I'm sorry, Carlisle. I am truly a selfish person for doing this to all of you. I have always been a selfish person."
"Don't say that, Edward," Carlisle hissed, turning to face his son. Edward flinched at the look on Carlisle's face and immediately looked away. He could not bear to see his father's pain.
"You have sacrificed your happiness over and over again. Bella knew that. I know that. If you are to leave this world, then I would ask you to think better of yourself, in honor of the woman who made you better."
Edward nodded wordlessly.
Carlisle walked towards his son.
"I love you, son. I wish I could stop you, but I know I would have done the same if Esme didn't exist. We all would have. I pray that you find peace, Edward. I hope you won't be conflicted, as you always were."
Edward stepped forward and hugged his father, sobbing against his shoulder.
"Thank you, Carlisle. Thank you for saving me that day, and thank you for bringing me into this life. If you hadn't, I never would have met Bella. I'm grateful to you for that."
XXX
Edward wanted to go the meadow. He wanted to go to the school to look at his old Biology desk. He also wanted to go to Bella's old bedroom.
He couldn't, however. Bella wasn't there to accompany him, and he saw no point in putting off the inevitable.
Edward walked through the great white house, one last time before deciding it was time to go. He called Bella's great-grandson and told him to meet him in the woods behind Charlie Swan's house.
"I would like to visit Bella's grave, and I'd like you all to come with me," Edward asked.
Before leaving the house, each member of the Cullen family hugged Edward, conveying their love for him through their minds.
The grief was too severe to speak of right now.
XXX
Somehow Alice produced some freesias for Edward to place at Bella and Jacob's graves.
Edward knelt in front of the grave, his eyes on the headstone. He glanced over at Jacob's grave, to pay his respects.
'I will see you soon, Bella,'
The Cullens stayed with him until it was time to go.
He touched the headstone on Bella's grave before standing up to face his end.
The Cullen family members were falling apart, one by one.
He hugged each and every one of them again before stepping back from them.
"Please take care of each other, and be safe. Try to find some happiness in this world."
"We love you, Edward. We always have, and we always will. You will always be a part of this family. Go, be at peace, son," Carlisle said as he placed his hand on Edward's shoulder.
"Goodbye," Edward whispered, his frozen heart breaking as he looked around at his family...one last time.
The Cullens watched him disappear...never to see their beloved son and brother again.
XXX
Edward looked up at the bedroom window that had once been his sanctuary. He knelt on the ground as he felt the pack approaching.
Images of his family came to mind.
"Goodbye, Edward," said the wolves together.
Edward closed his eyes and remembered Bella's face as they laid together in the meadow for the first time.
'I love you, Bella.'
XXX
The Cullens buried Edward's ashes next to Bella's grave. They were surprised to see Bella's descendants, who had arrived to pay respects to the man who had saved her life. He was someone Jacob Black had spoken highly of.
They gifted the Cullens with a headstone for Edward's grave.
Alice and Jasper spent time getting to know each of Bella's descendants. They were touched to learn that she had named her children after them.
They informed her family of their decision to leave the area so further generations of wolves would not appear, but asked them to keep in touch and call them if they ever needed anything.
Soon after, the Cullens disappeared from Forks.
Life went on for Bella and Jacob's family.
XXXXXX
1,000 Years Later
The world had changed, except for the Cullens.
On the anniversary of the day they lost Edward, they returned to visit his grave; the first time in a thousand years.
The stars were shining in the black sky as the family members gathered to pay respects to their beloved brother and son after all of these years.
They looked to the sky, and hoped, wherever he was, he was at peace.
XXX
Somewhere up in heaven, Jacob had Bella in his arms, while Edward sat in a corner and watched.
They were in the tent.
THE END
A/N: Thank you to everyone for reading, and thanks to those of you who've read and reviewed along the way. I'm sorry I never responded to each review, I was always trying to finish the story because my biggest fear was leaving it unfinished.
If you've never reviewed, I would love to hear from you.
If you have any questions, or want to see something specific written for an outtake, please let me know.
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