Author's Note: This is it! The final chapter! Thank you so much for reading.

The Cullens were staying at one of their houses in the U.K. and that's where Charlie thought I would be attending school, making a visit from him prohibitively expensive. Although flying would be much quicker for us to get home, with me still being a newborn and Edward having been away from humans for a while, Carlisle had asked Emmett to drive us. Not needing to eat or sleep definitely helped it be an easy possibility.

"Emmett, I can't thank you enough for making sure Bella didn't come by herself and helping us get home." Edward said as we contentedly snuggled in the backseat. "I know how hard it was for you to leave Rosalie behind."

"Anything for my family, brother. I'm just glad to help. Bella did the hard part."

Edward turned to look at me again, unable to stop smiling. "I always told you that you were special." he said, rubbing his nose with mine gently. "What kind of magic did you work on Aro to get me out of there?"

I couldn't help but laugh at the adorable look in his eyes. "Alice helped me plan it. I have a mental shield that I can push out to shield others, like when Jane tried to hurt us. I can remove it briefly, which is how I let you know I was there. Did that work? Did you hear me before they brought you in the room with me?"

"I thought I was imagining you at first, but your message was so specific, I had to believe you." He smiled, urging me to continue.

"We also discovered that I can keep my shield in place while allowing certain things through. For instance, I could allow Kate to shock me a little like static electricity if I wanted but stop her from tasing me like she did the guys. So, I only allowed certain memories and thoughts get through to Aro, ones Alice helped pick out in advance. You saw that part?"

"I did."

"I intentionally hid the thoughts about me deceiving him and choosing what memories to show him, as well as the specifics of how to work my shield. He thinks I don't fully understand it yet."

"You should have heard his thoughts when you showed him Jacob revealing our secret and not me. He was terrified. He knew then that you had proof that they wrongly imprisoned me, and he was willing to do almost anything to get on your good side. He actually considered killing us both and it took all of my strength to just focus on you and not do anything stupid." Edward said.

Emmett was laughing so hard and suddenly I was too. Edward looked between us confused.

"Alice said you would have that reaction." I explained between giggles. "That's why I knew to send you a message before you saw me."

"Was Alice also the one that dressed you so nicely?" he asked, smirking as he ran his hands down the sleeve of my, well his, jacket and then across the blue silk covering my hips.

"Partially."

"You should wear my clothes more often." he whispered in my ear, practically purring. I jumped a little, surprised at how provocative he was being, which sent Emmett into guffaws again.

Emmett had barely parked the car when Rosalie ran out to greet him, smiling at us. Edward put his arm around me and led us inside. I was immediately knocked backwards against the living room wall by the force of Alice running into me and throwing her arms around me. "Bella! You did it! I'm so proud of you!" she squealed, before turning her attention on Edward.

He laughed, followed by "Hi Alice, you haven't changed a bit." Jasper walked up to embrace me and then Edward as well.

Carlisle gave me a hug and kiss on the head. "Thank you for putting our family back together, Bella. You are so brave." I smiled back at him as Esme, refusing to remove the arm she had around Edward, pulled me in towards her with her free arm.

"I love you both so much." she said, looking at Edward and then me. She only released us when Carlisle reached for her, taking her in his arms. Everyone was so excited that we were home, us included.

"Esme, did you bring my stuff from Forks?" Edward asked randomly.

"Yes dear, all of it is up in your room."

"I'll be right back." Edward whispered in my ear as he darted upstairs before there was a chance to say anything. Emmett and Rosalie came in from outside and I was surprised when Rosalie grabbed me in a hug and shared her thanks as well.

Edward re-appeared in front of me with a huge grin on his face. He took my left hand and got down on one knee in front of me. Esme gasped. Alice squealed.

"Bella, I love you so much. I have been daydreaming of this moment since our first date and now I finally have an opportunity to ask." He pulled a small jewelry box out of his pocket and revealed an antique diamond cluster ring. "Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?"

"Yes." I smiled at him. Edward placed the ring on my finger, kissed my hand and then stood up, pulling me in his arms and kissing me on the lips. I kissed him back excitedly.

The family was beyond thrilled. Alice was jumping up and down. Esme was wiping invisible tears from her eyes.

At one point, I was against the idea of marriage knowing what my parents had gone through, but when Edward called me his mate, I knew that meant forever, unchanging. Suddenly, I wanted to be his in every way possible.

He turned around, still holding me in his arms, to face the family. "I couldn't wait any longer." he whispered in my ear. We walked towards everyone as they congratulated us. It was a very big day for the Cullen family.

When everyone settled down, Edward sat on the couch pulling me in his lap. He kept his arms firmly around me, not daring to let me go. I finally took a minute to admire the ring he placed on my finger.

"I could get you something more modern if you prefer." he said hesitantly.

"Nonsense, it's beautiful."

"It was the one my father gave my mother." he added softly, clearly glad that I loved it. I kissed him and then laid my head on his shoulder, relaxing. It had been a very long couple of days.

The family took their seats around us, everyone smiling. "Would anyone feel comfortable telling us what happened?" Carlisle asked, too curious to wait any longer.

Emmett had to be the one to start. "Well first Bella and I took a road trip that turned into a smelly flight…" I snorted laughing at him. "And then I drove Bella right into the danger zone and sped her and Edward away into the sunset, bringing them safely home."

"And you did a wonderful job at it, honey." Esme said, patting his arm with a smile.

EPOV

"Things went almost exactly like Alice said they would." Bella said quietly from my lap, as if she were almost asleep, she was so relaxed. She started absentmindedly playing with one of my hands. She had missed my touch as much as I missed hers.

"Emmett and I made it to Volterra safely and he did a great job of keeping me calm and distracted from the human smell on the flight by being his usual silly self." She giggled and continued. I heard what sounded like a few fart jokes in Emmett's thoughts from the flight. That wasn't a surprise.

"When I got out of the car, I started focusing as hard as possible on my message for Edward, repeating it in case I wasn't close enough for him to hear me at first. Aro was very excited to see me and I was able to let him read only select thoughts like we practiced. It was terrifying.

He wanted to test my shield more, like Alice said he would, but I asked to see Edward first. What you got wrong Alice is that Edward wasn't restrained by the guard, they just walked behind him and let him move freely, so he was at my side in an instant. It was much easier to shield him from Jane. Aro asked me to join the guard and I told him that I would think about it but only if he set Edward free. He debated it, but finally agreed. We practically ran out of there and into the car."

"And then they wouldn't stop kissing!" Emmett yelled, making kissy noises and moans. Rosalie smacked him on the head and smiled at me and Bella, making him stop.

There were a few murmurs and wows around the room before everyone turned their attention to me. I kissed Bella's head and tried to calm myself before starting my version of the story.

"First, I owe all of you an apology and so much more. Everything that happened is completely my fault for not listening to you when you told me that I wouldn't do any good by leaving Bella. I put so much stress and misfortune on you all by being so ignorant to your advice and everyone's true feelings, especially yours, Bella." I held her a little tighter and breathed in her scent to try to stay calm. She put her arms around me tighter as well, re-assuring me.

"I will do everything I can to try to make it up to you all, no matter how long it takes. I also want to give you all my sincere thanks for taking care of Bella for me when I couldn't. It means more than I can ever say that you saw to her safety and happiness when I failed to take care of her. And Carlisle, thank you for giving me the gift I was too stupid to accept on my own by changing her for me. Bella," she turned to look in my eyes and I was taken aback by the love reflected in them. "You already give me everything I've ever wanted just by existing, but you are what kept me sane this entire time, not only that, but you risked your own life to rescue me and then still miraculously agreed to become my wife." I found that I could no longer speak, I was so overcome with emotion.

Bella kissed me softly and caressed my cheek. I relaxed into her touch. I love you, Edward. Everything is perfect now. We're home. I would never tire of hearing her voice in my mind, the one I always wanted to hear the most. I kissed her once more and turned back to face my family.

"I will spare you all the uncomfortable details of what a mess I was when I left Forks. When I got the call telling me Bella was dead, I completely panicked. I was ready to die." I heard Rosalie sending me a sincere apology through her thoughts. "I tried to call and check on her, but that dog answered the phone telling me Charlie was at a funeral and I thought he meant Bella's. I went straight to Volterra begging for death. As you already know, they refused me and when I tried to anger them the next day so I would force them to kill me, Bella saved me at the last second." I had to pause, panicking. I felt Jasper attempt to calm me, but I was too anxious with the memory for it to work. Bella placed her forehead against mine and showed me her version of events that day. You were so gorgeous in the sunlight. I was in awe, but I knew I had to run faster than I ever had before to save your life, whether you wanted to see me or not. I needed you to know that I was alive. When I jumped in front of you and you grabbed me in your arms, I was so relieved. And terrified that I was too late. You didn't believe me at first and that was the worst part, but I couldn't be sad because I was finally with you again. I was just so happy and relieved to see you. I love you so much.

I was sure my family had to be getting annoyed with my constant pauses, but everyone's thoughts were patient and loving. I kissed Bella softly again and it calmed me more than anything Jasper could do.

"I'm sure Bella and Alice told you what happened when we were taken inside. Aro didn't want word to get out that they let me go after I revealed our secrets to a human and tried to provoke them, so he decided to hold me prisoner, still hoping he could talk me into joining the guard. He was hoping I would slip up, starving, and accept their gifts of human blood and then that you would reject me, so I'd join them. They tried logic and debate, but I couldn't do it. They tried to bribe me with offers of a trip to see Bella, or a phone so I could call her when I wanted, and it was so hard to tell them no, but I knew I had to."

Everyone's thoughts were completely focused on what I was saying, so I continued. "I was left alone most of the time in a cell. I heard the thoughts of nearly everyone in the castle, although I tried to tune them all out as much as I could. I had to hear Heidi come in with the humans and their final thoughts before they were slaughtered every single time those monsters fed." Esme gasped in horror. Bella snuggled closer to me, worried about me. It was horrendous, but now wasn't the time to focus on what was done.

"I was feeling pretty upset with myself for what happened and how I had treated you all and Bella when Carlisle came to see me. I was barely functioning or talking at that point. But then he reached in his pocket and I faintly smelled Bella."

"My letter." She said.

"It meant so much to me. Your letters were the only thing that I looked forward to. They reminded me why I was trying to hold out and not provoke them further. I wasn't expecting to hear from anyone again for a long time when Carlisle left, but a week or so later, a member of the guard walked in my cell and gave me an envelope with your handwriting on it. I am not ashamed to admit that I wept because not only could you contact me, but you forgave me for everything so easily. What did I ever do to deserve you, my angel?" I asked, caressing her face and hair as I held her tightly to me still.

"It was many months of the usual being completely alone, hearing unwanted thoughts and various members of the Volturi taunting me and trying to make me join them. When I got Bella's last letter and knew they would stop coming, I didn't move or interact with anyone for several days. I was so distraught and terrified that something would happen to her. Sometimes, I could remember the way Bella's voice sounded, as if she were there with me.

I thought I was hallucinating when I heard her voice in my head saying 'Edward, I'm here. I love you. Please trust me. I am going to say some things that you won't like to Aro and I need you to know that I have our best interests at heart. I know what I'm doing. Please trust me and hopefully we can both go home in a few hours.' Her message was so odd and unlike anything I would dream up, so I had to believe that she was real and when she repeated the message, I could hear some of her other thoughts as well, like her walking down the hallways of the castle.

I immediately felt hopeful beyond any time up to that point, even when Carlisle came. I put her letters and pictures in my pockets," I paused and emptied my pockets onto the coffee table. I had been carrying them with me ever since. A few people laughed softly.

"I heard Bella talking to Aro and saw her showing him many of her memories, including a rather concerning one of her considering becoming a member of the Volturi herself, but I remembered her message. Then, a member of the guard came to my door and took me to her. I was the most scared I have ever been for her safety. I nearly fell over in surprise when I heard her voice in my head telling me that she was alright and that she loved me. But then, they opened the door and my angel was standing right in front of me and I had to have her in my arms no matter what the cost." Bella smiled, remembering how happy it made her. "I believe Bella has told you the rest of the story from there." I was holding Bella closely to me and finally relaxing now that everyone was caught up.

"We're very glad you're home, Edward." Carlisle said, speaking for the family.

"Me too." I said. "I'll never disrespect you all like I did by ignoring your feelings again. I promise. I hope that you will each let me make it up to you in time."

I closed my eyes and leaned back, enjoying the feeling of being home and not being constantly afraid anymore. It had been an eventful few days and I was content to just sit here with my family and most importantly, my mate.

Alice's thoughts immediately turned to planning a wedding, excited. Soon, she was speaking out loud with Esme and Rosalie about it. Carlisle went up to his study and Emmett and Jasper went out to hunt.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Bella asked me quietly as she held my face in her delicate hands.

"I'm more than alright. I've never been so happy and relaxed." I said honestly, looking into her lovely eyes. Although they were red, they were still Bella's.

"You looked so rough when we first got there. I was scared they had hurt you. And you were so thirsty." she said, and I pressed my forehead to hers.

"I was extremely thirsty, yes. It had been months. I wasn't as strong as I needed to be right then, but with you standing in front of me, nothing else mattered but you."

"Did hearing all of those morbid thoughts bother you?"

"Yes, very much. It still does. But I'm so intoxicated by your very presence that I can't even think about it." That much was true. She was every bit of my available brainpower.

"I was afraid I wouldn't smell as good to you as a vampire."

"You still smell every bit as good, just without the burn in my throat now. It's wonderful." I said, loudly sniffing her hair and causing her to giggle, the best sound in my world. "I'm so sorry for everything, love. I've hurt you and made you suffer so much because of my own stupidity and yet you're still here with me. I will never be so careless again. You have my word that I won't take off again or make any decisions without you."

"You're not mad at me?"

"Why on Earth would I ever be mad at you Bella?" I asked, incredulous.

"I asked Carlisle to change me. It isn't what you wanted for me." she said, looking down at our laps.

"It certainly wasn't my first choice, but Bella, you willingly gave up everything, your family, your friends, your humanity, just to be with me and save me from eternal torture at the hands of the Volturi. I could never be mad at you." She looked back up at me. "I used to believe that vampires didn't have souls. I know Carlisle told you that much after your party. I changed my mind. There is no way someone as pure and loving as you doesn't have a soul. I am grateful for the actions everyone took. I have nothing to be upset about in the slightest."

"You aren't upset with me for reading your journals?" she asked, causing me to crack up laughing.

"No, love. That really was me trying to give Alice those visions to make you feel better. Alice, you did lovely. Thank you."

"Clever, brother!" Alice said in return.

"Your favorite food isn't Pop Tarts anymore?" I asked, laughing. Bella smiled her lovely smile back at me.

"No, it's actually mountain lion."

"Now you're just messing with me!"

"No brother, it really is her favorite too." Alice said, laughing and thinking of how perfect Bella & I are for each other.

Esme startled me by appearing suddenly in front of me and Bella. I had been so focused on our conversation that I hadn't noticed her even getting up. She held a large key out to me.

"Your room upstairs is as it always is if you want it, but Alice had a vision a few weeks ago of you home safely and proposing to Bella. This goes to a small cabin we've renovated for you two to have some privacy. It's on our property about four miles South."

"Esme!" Bella exclaimed, jumping up to hug my mother. "You got us a house?"

"A small cabin, but yes." Esme said, eyes sparkling.

"You did all of this without me noticing? How?!" Bella was amazed.

"You were pretty distracted with the change and your training." Esme laughed and I stood up to hug her as well.

Bella and I said goodnight to the family remaining in the house and I put my arm around her waist. "Come on love, I believe we have some unfinished business from earlier." I winked at her and causing her to look down, embarrassed.

Bella lifted her shield for me to hear her thoughts and I know that she got the message. She was already waiting for the next opportunity to pounce me and pick up right where we left off and I was delighted. For once, our future looked perfect.