Epilogue-

9 months later

"Well, I think it's safe to say that you guys did good," Edward said, smiling at the squealing baby, who was bouncing happily in his high chair.

"He's beautiful," Bella agreed. "The perfect mix of the two of you."

Ben Jr. knocked the container of mushy food out of Angela's hand, and she rushed to wipe up the mess. "Messy, messy," she chided. "Some days he is more beautiful than others," she said with a laugh. "It was really great to see you both today. I'm so glad you called."

"You should try to make it up to Seattle sometime. We would love to have you,"

"Absolutely," Ben agreed. "We'll be in touch."

"You ready to go?" Edward asked Bella, putting a comforting arm around her. "It's almost time."

Bella nodded and started to grab her purse.

"You're braver than me," Angela laughed. "After learning about everything that happened to you, I won't set foot near that place. I was more than happy to tender my resignation."

"This will be the last and only time, trust me," Bella responded. "But I feel like I owe it to her, you know?"

"It's a great thing you are doing," Angela said. "You guys call us any time," she added, hugging Bella gently. "It was so great to see you- keep in touch!"

"We will," Bella agreed.

"There she is- are you ready?" Edward asked, squeezing Bella's hand gently.

"Definitely ready," Bella said with a genuine smile. "I promise, I'm okay."

Edward had been concerned all day that being back at the prison would bring back bad memories for Bella. Now, as they stared at the ominous building, he was pleasantly surprised to see that Bella appeared calm- even happy.

"She looks happy," Edward said, watching the slight figure make her way over.

"Of course she does," Bella said. "Weren't you happy when you got out of here?"

"That was a little different," he laughed.

"Bella!" Maggie squealed, running into Bella's open arms. "Let me look at you! You gained weight!"

"Umm… thanks," Bella said uncertainly, starting to cover herself with her arms. She had put on a few pounds, and was now within the parameters of a healthy weight. Still, she felt uncomfortable when anybody commented on her body, good or bad.

"No, none of that. You look beautiful- healthy. It's so good to see you! I can't thank you enough for picking me up! Honestly I didn't know what I was going to do, and then I got your letter."

"It's the least I could do," Bella replied. "You helped me more than you know."

"And you, Edward- you look well!" Maggie said, throwing her arms around him. "Now let's get the hell out of here before they change their mind and drag me back in!"

Bella laughed and pointed in the direction of Edward's car. "This way."

"I know it isn't easy for you to be here. You're such a good friend. And I promise, I won't wear out my welcome. I am going to get myself a job straight away and be out of your hair before you know it. And I'm very tidy, I promise you that too. You won't even know I'm there."

Bella laughed- "I remember. We lived together before, you know."

"Oh, that was different and you know it. I'll tell you though, the first thing I need to do is get myself some clothes that fit. Can you believe the shite in the donation bin here?" Maggie motioned to the oversized t-shirt and sweats that she was wearing. "Eh, who cares, I'm free now, right? Hey, Edward, can we stop at a McDonalds or something? It's been three damn years since I had some good junk food."

"I think we can manage that," Edward said as they reached the car. Maggie climbed in the backseat happily, still chattering away.

Edward caught Bella's eyes over the roof of the car, "Wow," he mouthed.

Bella just smiled in response. She had been fully prepared at Maggie's hyper talkativeness. That didn't matter though- it was good to have her friend back.

Bella couldn't believe how much food Maggie was able to consume in one sitting, and couldn't help staring at her tiny friend while she stuffed her face full of fast food.

"So I have to tell you about your mother," Maggie said, after swallowing another mouthful of fries.

"Not sure I want to her it, to be honest," Bella said. "She's out of my life for good, you know?"

"Oh, you'll want to hear this, I promise," Maggie said, shrugging her off. "Her first day in- mind you I didn't know she was your mother at the time- she comes into the cafeteria and just sits in the middle of the table like she owns the place. Starts talking herself up like she's the baddest bitch that ever walked the earth. Everyone is just staring at her, right? Then when she finally stops talking, Tia just looked her dead in the eyes and asked her, "Shouldn't you be at the old folks table?"

Bella laughed, "She didn't."

"She did. And then Renee got all red in the face and shrieked, so the whole cafeteria could hear, 'I am not old!"

Bella almost choked on the soda she was sipping. "Wow. What a way to make a first impression."

"It was a riot- everyone was laughing. So then Tia gets up, grabs her by the arm, and walks her over to the table where the older ladies sit and points to a chair. Then old Betty says to her, 'what did you bring this bitch over here for? She can't sit with us.'"

"I'd say I felt sorry for her, but…"

"I get it. Well she constantly got herself into trouble. She tried to refuse her work assignment in janitorial services. She told the guards that scrubbing toilets was for lower class people. That didn't sit too well, and got her a few hours in seg to consider. She always complained to the guards about every little thing- the food, the cleanliness, even the color of the walls. They couldn't stand her! But then, she started telling stories about her horrible daughter, and how her daughter framed her for an accident. It was exactly your story, but in reverse. I put the pieces together and figured out who she was. Well I told everyone what a lying bitch she was. Last I saw her she was in tears, crying because nobody would talk to her. She was begging Michael to move her down to the camp, which as you know, is not going to happen. In short, she's miserable there. She doesn't ever get visitors or mail. Her hair is all grown out and gray now because she won't go into the beauty shop where Tia works. The old ladies still won't have anything to do with her, especially after I told them what she did."

"Sounds miserable," Bella said, a sad look on her face. "It's awful to be alone."

"Oh, none of that!" Maggie protested. "It's nothing less than she deserves. If she would just relax her sense of entitlement and realize where she is and who she's with, she might be able to make a friend or two. If not, she deserves to suffer."

"You're right," Bella agreed, as Edward's phone started to ring.

"That's odd," Edward mused, staring at the display. "It's Mike."

"Mike from the prison?" Bella asked.

"Yeah." He shrugged and picked up the phone and put it on speaker. "Hello?"

"Cullen. You have a bunch of boxes here addressed to you."

"Boxes?"

"Yeah, dozens of them. They've filled up my entire office. When can you get here to get them?"

"Who are they from?"

"All different places- University of Washington, some private college… a local library..."

"The books," Bella whispered excitedly.

"Oh, great!" Edward said. "Listen, those are book donations for the prison library. You can open them."

"The library? You don't understand, there must be thousands of books here. When can you get here to unload this shit? I didn't authorize this."

"Well, that's not going happen, Newton. You fired me, remember?" Edward laughed. "And they're donations- you didn't have to authorize it. Ask one of your social workers to help you."

"What social workers? Angela quit, and I still haven't found anyone to replace you. I'm dying here!"

"That sounds like a personal problem, to be honest with you, Mike."

"What am I supposed to do with all of this?" Newton was whining as Edward hung up the phone.

"Life is good," Edward said with a smile, throwing his arm around Bella.

"You guys are really perfect together, you know that?"

"We know," Bella said, kissing him on the cheek. "In fact..." she said, showing Maggie her left hand across the table.

"Look at the size of that rock!" Maggie squealed, looking at the diamond on Bella's ring finger.

"It was my birth mother's," Edward explained. "But we both love it."

"It's perfect! When is the big day?"

"Next month," Bella said. "In fact, I wanted to ask you if you would be one of my bridesmaids?"

"Me? Are you sure?"

"Maggie, you saved my life, in more ways than one. If it weren't for you, who knows where I'd be. Of course I'm sure."

"Then it would be my honor! Now, I have some ideas…" she continued.

Edward and Bella smiled at each other as Maggie started prattling excitedly about wedding plans. "I have got to introduce her to Alice," Edward whispered.

"Things are really falling into place now," Bella said later that evening, as they readied for bed. Maggie was already passed out on the couch. She fell asleep almost instantly, after telling them it was the most comfortable thing she had laid on in years. "It's weird... having Maggie here brought so many memories back to me, but it almost seems like a distant memory now. Honestly, I wonder where we would be if none of this had ever happened. Would we have found each other again?"

"I like to think so. This certainly wasn't the easiest road back to each other, that's for sure. But I'd like to think we would have both been back in Forks. Maybe we would have run into each other at a grocery store or something."

"That would have been easier, yes," Bella said with a laugh. "But we did find each other- that's what's important. And now we can have our forever."

"Forever," Edward agreed, pulling her tightly against him. "And ever, and ever."

A/N- We made it! Thank you to all of my readers who kept me motivated to keep going. This has been a rough year, for sure, and I appreciate every one of you for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Until next time...