We've reached the end - well almost! I've taken the decision to split the epilogue into two because it was just soooo long. Don't worry I'm not going to make you wait, part two will post tomorrow:)

Back in June, I was so nervous about extending this one-shot into a story. I wanted people to give these two characters a chance, and it's safe to say you've done that and more. The amount of love this story has received has been humbling, astounding, and overwhelming. Thank you for staying with me to the happy end I promised. They've earned it, as have you all:)

Enjoy!

Epilogue

~One Year later (or thereabouts) ~

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

The crowd cheered, and a round of applause resounded around the room as the groom reached out desperately to embrace his wife in a kiss that bordered on obscene for public viewing - particularly among the more reserved members of the Cullen family.

When they finally pulled apart, the groom gazed adoringly at his wife, blissfully unaware of the sniggers and laughter around him. All around were wide smiles, laughter, a few tears disguised with a quick brush of the hand, but most of all, there was joy at the happy union taking place.

Unseen to those around him, I noticed the groom let out a breath of relief because finally, after three times of asking, Rosalie had put Emmett out of his misery and said yes! The poor guy had to sell marriage to her. Thankfully, he won her round … and here they were …

Their wedding was beautiful. Rosalie looked stunning; she made the most beautiful bride, and Emmett cut a fine figure in a classic tux. In fact, all the men looked incredible. Cullen men know how to wear a tux; I'll give them that.

None more so than my charming and infuriatingly handsome husband.

Edward, being the best man and me, the maid of honor, we both had duties, which meant I'd barely seen much of him today. Most of the week had been taken up with wedding-related tasks, so we were excited to finally spend some time together now that our duties are almost complete.

Tonight is one of the rare nights we will have to ourselves because once the party is over, it's 'Edward and Bella time' as we jokingly call it. It's something we started when Garrett was very young. At first, I felt hesitant ... nervous ... not to mention guilty about leaving our son, but it was good for us and good for him, too. So, one night a week, we would go out on a date, to a restaurant, a bar, even just to the movies, with no distractions ... no business talk ... no baby to change or crying child to soothe - just the two of us. Esme and Carlisle babysit, and they love spending time with Garrett.

However, I need a night with Edward now more than ever because I have some exciting news to share. I have a special night planned for my husband, who has been acting a little shifty.

All through the ceremony, he seemed fine, but as soon as we moved to the reception, I noticed a change in his behavior. On the surface, he appears fine, but I know my husband; something is wrong; he just seems a little off.

"You're quiet, is everything okay?" I ask as we sit down for dinner. The speeches are out of the way, so I know that's not what he's worried about. Not that I've ever known him to be shy or lack confidence. Far from it - Edward is so self-assured he breezed through his best man speech, having everyone in stitches, even Emmett, who bore the brunt of his riskier jokes and stories.

"The wedding has got me thinking, is all," he muses, playing with the stem of his wine glass, avoiding eye contact.

"Should I be worried?"

When his eyes finally meet mine, I'm even more worried because Edward looks nervous, and I have no idea where he is going with this.

"On our wedding day ... You missed out on so much; the build-up ... the grandeur ...the big day most women dream about." He says, looking guilty.

"I'm not most women," I reply before turning serious. "I'm not going to lie - our wedding was hardly romantic, but we made our vows - vows we both took seriously. It's where we are now that matters most."

Reaching out, I cup his face in my hands, tilting it up and placing a quick kiss on his lips, which brings a small smile to his face.

"After everything we've been through, a fancy wedding would have been on the bottom of my priorities. You know how much I hate the fuss. This wedding ..." I gesture around the room at the elaborate tables, which are plated with the finest dinnerware and crystal glassware ... the ice sculptures ... the impressive six-tier cake (Emmett's request, not Rose's).

"This is Rosalie's dream wedding, but it's not mine. Something smaller and more intimate is far more my style."

I'm not saying it to make him feel better- It's the truth. I've never felt pressured or the need to have a big fancy wedding. My words seem to get through, and he visibly relaxes.

"You mean that? You're not just saying it to make me feel less of an ass?"

"Yes, I'm positive. The truth is, my dream wedding centered around finding the right man; That part I got right the first time. So, stop worrying, okay. I'm happy ... blissfully happy ... sickeningly so, if you ask Rose."

As if to prove my point, Edward kisses me deeply, completely uncaring of his family around us, who start cheering and applauding.

…

The night continues, filled with conversation, laughter, and, most importantly, family.

Thankfully, Edward seemed to loosen up after dinner, and we shared a few dances before I join Alice at our table while he went off to take care of a few things - whatever the hell that means.

That was some time ago. I'm sitting with Alice watching Emmett pull out some moves on the dance floor that have Rosalie laughing. She's so happy - she's practically glowing. I'm delighted for my friend. I've never seen her so happy.

Finally, after what feels like hours since I last saw him, I spot Edward on the far side of the room. He's talking with Jasper. I feel a sense of pride just watching him. He's a tough guy, but he's also a complete marshmallow when it comes to our son. He looks at Garrett like he hung the moon. Other family members have tried to hold our son, but Edward keeps him tucked into his side.

My maddeningly attractive ... possessive ... husband is not particularly good at sharing.

Jasper is just as bad. He's guarding his son, Riley, so tightly you'd think they were in mortal danger. Honestly, both men are extremely competitive and are forever comparing who's going to reach those milestones first; the first smile … the first word …the first crawl. It's all good-natured, of course.

Sometimes I wonder if it's a good thing both of us having boys so close in age. Then I look at Emmett and Edward and how close they are ... how lucky they are to have such a strong bond, and I feel grateful our children have each other.

I force my gaze away from Edward, but it's not long before my eyes drift across the room, because let's be honest, is there anything hotter than a man holding a baby? I don't think so - especially when it's Edward. He makes it look like an art form. He's pure sin incarnate in a tux while holding our son.

"You're staring again," Alice whispers in my ear.

"It's hard not to. He's so good with him," I praise.

It's true. Edward is a wonderful father and a supportive husband too. He helped me through the difficult early days and months when I was sleep-deprived and struggling to cope with all that came with parenthood - especially the first time around. He's been there for me whenever I need him, encouraging me to stop being so hard on myself when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

"Edward loves being a dad," Alice leans forward conspiratorially. "It's a good job you're giving him another, isn't it."?

"Keep your voice down, would you. I've not told him yet," I try to sound annoyed, but just the mention of our new addition to the family brings a smile to my face. Standing, I urge Alice away from our table - cautious of other people overhearing our conversation.

I learned I was pregnant yesterday, but I'm still buzzing from the news. I thought it was just tiredness brought on by all the chaos around the wedding. Rosalie was no bridezilla, but a Cullen wedding - especially that of the family's future leader demanded a certain amount of show.

I'd been so busy I missed the signs; the sickness ... the tiredness ... the swollen breasts. It wasn't until I confided in Alice that I felt run down, and she suggested I take a test. I laughed, then did the math. It was possible … more than possible.

After I got the results, I didn't know how I felt; happy, shocked, excited, nervous all rolled into one.

Edward and I had discussed having more children, but we hadn't put a timeframe on it. This was soon - too soon?

The truth is, I hadn't expected to conceive so quickly. We weren't trying; almost the opposite. We used protection, and I'm on the pill, but accidents happen, I guess. I have a fairly good idea where that slip-up happened, but enough about that.

That's a story for another time…

Regardless of how unexpected and unplanned this pregnancy is, I'm beyond excited at the prospect of a sibling for Garrett but apprehensive of Edward's reaction. Maybe apprehensive isn't the right word. I just needed to tell him before I could truly celebrate the news.

"You need to tell him, Bella," Alice said, echoing my thoughts.

"I'm waiting for the right time. All the build-up to this wedding has meant I've barely seen my husband all week. Even more so today!"

It's true. In the last week, we have barely managed to have more than an hour together and add a baby to the mix; we were both exhausted. Who knew wedding planning could be so stressful? I got lucky when Alice planned mine, as I later found out.

There was never the right moment to share my news. "I'll be glad when I can have a minute with Edward. Waiting is not helping."

"You're not nervous, are you? Surely you know how thrilled Edward will be to expand his empire. You only have to look at how besotted he is with Garrett to know he wants more. If he had his way, he'd have you knocking out a whole soccer team!"

I laugh because, yes, Edward has joked before about having many more children.

"I hope so … not so much the soccer team, but more children. It's pretty soon, though..."

Alice snorts. "Please, he's going to be over the moon - a complete nightmare - bragging up until your due date."

"When I finally get a moment alone with him, I'll tell him. I don't want an audience."

"Now might be your chance," Alice giggles.

"What you two gossiping about?" My favorite velvety voice whispers in my ear. Warm arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I can't resist leaning back against him. His hands wander a little low on my hips. He nuzzles into my hair, burying his face into the side of my neck, where he places a few kisses. I can smell the faint hint of whiskey on his breath - perhaps the reason for his boldness.

"Edward," I warn.

"Who else?" I can feel his smile against my neck. I turn around to face him, his mouth twitching slightly at the corners, hiding a knowing smile. "I've barely seen you all night. I need a few moments with my favorite person."

"Your favorite?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"One of my favorite people," he corrects.

"Where is our son, anyway?" I say, reaching up, wrapping my arms around his neck, pressing against him.

Edward frowns, showing his disappointment. "Nanna has him," he whines.

"You need to learn to share," I say, laughing.

"Bella, you know better than anyone that I don't share anything that's mine," His voice is low ... deliciously husky. And then he sends me the look, the one that gets my heart racing and my cheeks flushing even now, after close to two years of marriage.

How does he do that?

"I missed you last night." His arms creep around me, drawing my body even closer against his, where I can feel just how much he missed me.

"I missed you too," I admit; my voice comes out ridiculously breathy, which brings a smug smile to his lips. He leans in and kisses me slowly, deeply, and completely uncaring of anyone else around. As our mouths press together, our tongues explore one another. But before we can get carried away, Alice interrupts us.

"All right! Knock it off, you two! There are kids here, and you're gonna give Auntie Carmen a heart attack if you keep that up. Besides, it looks like Dad is calling you out." She says with glee.

Pulling back suddenly, Edward broke off the kiss with a chuckle. We part, and sure enough, Carlisle is signaling him to the far side of the room.

Edward groans, offering me an apologetic smile before saying, "I'll be back soon, and we can pick up where we've left off."

There's no mistaking the promise in his voice.

He dipped his head to brush the lightest of kisses on my cheek before he turns and walks away.

…

The evening flew by, and the only downside was that I had barely seen my husband, who was pulled from person to person. This time, he's with one of his cousins who grabbed him after he was finished with Carlisle. And while I would have liked to have more time with Edward, his absence gave me a chance to catch up with my favorite person; Nanna.

She's happy, too, because she never turns down an opportunity to spend time with her great-grandson.

Garrett is the perfect mix of the two of us. I can't believe this perfect little human is mine. He has my eyes - the same eyes I inherited from my dad. His hair is all Edward; it has a reddish tint, and it's completely crazy.

You know those babies that have perfectly cute little curls that sit nicely in place? Not our son; his is vast, unruly, and sticks out in any direction, regardless of how many times I comb it. Edward thinks it's hilarious until he's the one trying to calm an uncooperative one-year-old.

Has it been perfect? No, not by a long shot. Like any new mother, I've had my struggles. There were the sleepless nights ... the recovery from giving birth ... the battles with myself; worrying if I'm good enough … if I'm doing everything right.

And there have been tears … plenty of tears, both Garrett's and mine. It's been a learning curve for sure, full of highs and lows, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

When Nanna reaches out to pinch his cheek, Garrett giggles and squirms in my arms before settling down while we catch up. We're discussing how Garrett is learning some new words when her gaze is drawn to my husband, who is currently talking with Alexis and his wife, who are here to represent their family.

"Does he know yet?" she says casually.

"Know what?"

Reaching for my glass, I take a sip of my drink while my son is distracted with his rattle.

"Does he know he's gonna be a daddy for a second time?"

I choke on my drink, which buys me a few seconds. When I've recovered, I narrow my eyes at her—Nanna's eyes sparkle in amusement.

How the hell does she know?

I swear that woman has a built-in lie detector. She's good, but unlike last time I'm not falling for it so easily.

"Nanna!" I fake outrage. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever you say, dear." She sends me a sly smile and pats my hand. Coming from anyone else, it would be patronizing, but Nanna makes me smile.

Her expression is teasing, and I know something else is coming.

"So, if I took a sip of your drink, I wouldn't find apple juice or lemonade in there?" She raised her eyebrows comically. She looks so smug ... so pleased with herself I can't help laughing at her gleeful expression.

I can't hide anything from her—she has superpowers. The only people who know are Rose and Alice, who were there when I took the tests last night - all five of them.

"Knock it off, Mrs. Marple," I shoot back, hoping distraction and sarcasm work because I can't lie to her.

Nanna smirks, having way too much fun with this. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

I don't say anything because whatever I say will only encourage her, and she's already on to me.

...

Two hours later, the reception is only just starting to get going.

I finally manage to have some time with Rosalie and Angela. I'm delighted Angela is finally here to meet the family. It's been so nice, spending time with my girls, just the three of us, like old times.

I can't lie; sometimes it's difficult maintaining our friendship with Angela with so many miles between us. We have different lives now, yet our friendship is as strong as ever. Over the last couple of years, we've kept in touch through phone calls, emails, video calls. And when we are reunited, it's just as though we've never been apart. It's been so nice to see her at both the wedding and Rosalie's bachelorette party too.

"Do you ever wonder what might have been? Rose asks unexpectedly.

I turn to look at her in surprise, wondering where she is going with this.

"What do you mean?"

"I sometimes think it's amazing how everything worked out." Her gaze flickers across the room to where our husbands are talking. "If you'd not met Edward that night ... who knows where we would be now. Would you change anything?"

I'm quiet for a moment as I consider her question.

It would be all too easy to say yes, I would change the circumstance of how Edward and I met, but the truth is, everything that happened in the past all contributed to where we are now. Of course, I regret hurting Edward. There will always be a part of me that feels guilty about what I did, but I wouldn't take it back. How can I? If I hadn't come up with such a crazy, desperate plan, there would be no Garrett. I can't think about a life without Edward or the precious baby in my arms.

Yes, there's been heartache and pain on both sides, but I wouldn't change one thing- not running out on him, the difficult start to married life, not even James or Marcus because all those things; both good and bad, have led us to where we are now - happier than even my wildest dreams could have imagined.

Turning back to Rosalie, I try to answer her question.

"Looking back, I can't believe how crazy, not to mention how selfish I was. But it was because of that madness, I met Edward," I say, unsure how to put the way I feel into words. "I've thought about it a lot over the years, and who knows? If we'd done anything differently, we might not be where we are now. Does that make sense?"

"You deserve to be happy, Bella. You and Edward were meant to find each other," Rosalie says with tears in her eyes.

"Yeah, you lucked out by marrying one of the richest, most influential families in Seattle," Angela jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

Rose and I share a knowing look because while Angela may know some things about our family, she has no idea just how powerful our husbands are, and more specifically, who our Family is.

...

See you tomorrow for part two:)