Hello everyone,

Well this is the very last chapter of Broken Wings. It has been my greatest pleasure to create this story for all of you, and I thank you all for continuing to return for this journey chapter after chapter.

With that said, this is a work of fiction. I am not a lawyer or a judge, but I wanted to give this man a break considering we all feel as though Edward was justified in his dealings with Jason, or at least most of us.

Anyway, thanks for coming for the ride, and I hope I see you all in the future. If you are not reading THE FORBIDDEN ALLIANCE I urge you to do so, it is shaping up to be one helluva ride.

I want to thank Fran Walsh for her diligence in beta'ing this story. She has been just as committed to this story as I have, and sometimes more so.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

Please review…

After countless meetings with an attorney and scouring the court proceedings of his trial, Edward stood in the one place he'd sworn to never be in again.

"Will the defendant please rise to hear the decision of this court." The bailiff called in a loud booming voice that bounced off the high ceilings of the courtroom.

Edward was frozen to the marble floor where he stood. His entire being prickled as a memory of the last time he'd waited before a judge came swiftly to mind. Even with the support of his family and his girlfriend, Edward couldn't stifle the fear gripping his very soul. His mind went swiftly back to the time when those cold metal cuffs clamped around his wrist, making him a prisoner of the state. His gut rolled as anxiety climbed high in his chest and a lump of dread slid up his throat.

After several meetings with an attorney and having the lawyer sort through all the legal proceedings, Edward's lawyer, Martin Andrews, discovered correspondence between the judge and the attorney from the previous case. After weeks of pouring over all the incriminating evidence, Andrews had filed an appeal with the courts, hoping to lessen the charges Edward had received on his initial hearing.

Now here he was enduring a bench trial and kind of relieved knowing the judge would be the only one determining this case. While Edward felt justified in his actions regarding Jason all those years ago, it would be far easier convincing one person of that versus twelve.

Even though there wasn't even the slightest chance of reliving those years in prison, Edward couldn't silence his nerves as they screamed through his body, perspiration breaking out across his forehead. Suddenly the suit he wore was far too restricting, and his lungs drew tight as he sought air. He barely managed to refrain from grabbing the knot at the base of his throat and yanking at it, hoping to allow a deeper breath.

"By the findings of this court," Judge Ross began, his steely gray eyes boring into Edward's. With a slight shake of his head, he continued, "I am going to speak plainly for a moment before we proceed to my judgment regarding this appeal."

Edward tried to keep from shuffling from foot to foot, yet he'd never been so anxious in his entire fucking life. His nostrils flared as he attempted to calm the battle raging to life. His chest felt like it was about to implode, and the acid in his gut churned viciously. Edward's lips parted as he panted for breath and willed the world around him to remain steady.

"Young man, in the case of The State of Georgia versus Edward Cullen, I have thoroughly inspected all of the evidence presented by your lawyer and must admit I have never seen such negligence in a legal representation in all my years on the bench. The attorney you hired to represent you during your initial trial acted against his client and the state, officially slapping the proceedings of this court in the face. The judge responsible for trying that case did you a grave injustice, and I hope to rectify that today. I am officially overturning the judgment on you, Mr. Cullen."

Relief rocked into Edward's core with a vengeance, and he rocked back on his heels as the judge's voice boomed from the bench. Ringing started in Edward's ears, and he shook his head to clear the noise interfering with what the judge had to say.

"I hereby reverse the murder charge you have carried for the last ten years. I am declaring voluntary manslaughter, effectively erasing dropping the murder charges against you. I advise your lawyer to file restitution with the state considering the time serviced was way too severe considering the circumstances. Your freedom doesn't have a monetary value; however, you are entitled to be compensated for the time you were forced to serve. In this case, the punishment did not fit the crime.

As I said, both the judge and attorney during your initial hearing did you, your family, and this court a disservice by altering documents and evidence. You, Edward Cullen, will no longer have charges on your record regarding this unfortunate incident. I will have those records expunged due to illegal tampering. On behalf of myself and The State of Georgia, I would like to offer our sincere apologies and hope you find some peace from these findings."

By the time Judge Ross finished speaking, Edward had a smile from ear to ear. The relief he experienced couldn't adequately be defined or described, but he suddenly felt elated, his wings spreading as he soared higher than the clouds. He was about to turn in the direction of his family when the judge stopped him.

"Edward Cullen, I am officially bringing charges on the persons responsible for this grave injustice, and you will be notified by the court of the date and time. I will call upon you to be a witness in the legal proceedings. Now go, hug your family, celebrate with them, and enjoy the rest of your life."

"Thank you, Judge," Edward nodded as he turned to his lawyer. Firmly, he took the man's hand and shook it vigorously as he lost focus on the room around him. Edward's attention went to the woman sitting impatiently behind the wall and abruptly left the attorney's side.

Edward's gaze never wavered from Bella's as he crossed the stand before her. When she'd moved into the house across the way, he'd never could have envisioned her having such an impact on his life. She'd breathed new life into him, and without her, he would've never found the courage to face his past. Grinning back at her, he pulled her into his arms, cursing the wall preventing him from embracing her more fully.

"I'm so happy for you," Bella whispered, kissing his cheek as her arms wound around his neck and hugging him tightly. Combing his wayward hair back from his forehead, she stared up at him with all the love she possessed. "I'm so proud of you. You are such an amazing man, and you deserve this, baby."

Edward swallowed down the thickness that clawed at his throat. Clearing the rawness, he laid his forehead against Bella's. "I couldn't have done any of this without you. You've given me all the courage and strength I needed to face this a second time. I'm the luckiest man to walk this earth, and I have no idea what I did to deserve you."

Bella accepted the brief peck he placed on her lips as he withdrew and turned toward his family. Carlisle wore the biggest smile he'd ever seen and clapped him on the back as he wound his arms around him. "Congratulations, Edward, you have a brand-new life. And you have made me so proud, son. None of this could've been easy. Hug your mother before she dances out of her shoes."

Obediently, Edward embraced his mother and dropped a quick kiss to her cheek. Staring down at the woman who had given him birth, Edward's eyes misted. Why? Because no one had his back like his mother, and she had shown her support from the very beginning. "Thanks, Mom, for always believing in me and sticking by my side in a time when I was certain the world was against me."

"You don't have to thank me, Edward. It's what mothers do," Esme stated, cupping Edward's scruffy cheeks. "You are so precious to me, and always have been."

After giving his mother another long hug, Edward backed away and looked to Alice. She was almost five months pregnant, and her hormones were completely out of whack. Her eyes brimmed with tears as an apology tumbled from her lips. During the course of the last year, Alice had apologized over and over. Edward shook his head at her and smiled. "Don't you dare ... I would do it all again, and I don't regret any of it. I love you, and protecting you and potentially other women, makes it all worth it. Get a hold of her, man, before she breaks down."

Edward cuffed Jasper on the shoulder with a large grin. It was a beautiful thing when the world decided to actually cooperate. Alice and Jasper belonged with one another, and it was wonderful to see his sister getting the destiny that had been planned for her. As the idea of fate tickled Edward's thoughts, he again spotted Bella. Their eyes glowed as they met and held, and Edward knew without a shadow of a doubt she'd been meant for him. So many times, Edward found himself wishing he'd met her years earlier, yet life worked out exactly how and when it was meant to.

Perhaps, if they'd met before they did, they would've never found the happiness they shared now. With this thought in mind, he wiggled his fingers and offered his hand to her. Before he could step through the swinging doors, however, his lawyer stalled him, saying, "Come by my office at the earliest convenience. I would love to get started on the claim for restitution. They owe you something for the years they stole, and I'm going to make sure they pay for it."

"I definitely will. Thanks for all your time and hard work, Mr. Andrews. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Probably not," Martin agreed, pleased by the outcome. "You were given a raw deal, and it's my pleasure to sort through the bull for you."

With one final shake of his attorney's hand, Edward pushed through the swinging doors and wrapped his arm around Bella's waist. "Let's get out of here before I faint or something. I can't stand being anywhere near this courtroom for one minute longer."

Carlisle waved at Edward to get his attention. Ever since Edward had met Bella Swan, Carlisle had watched his son grow. Once upon a time, no one could get Edward to come out for an evening, and now, he visited frequently and always had a smile on his face. Carlisle's heart brimmed with happiness at the thought. Not only had his son been revived, but he'd gained a beautiful, hopefully, soon-to-be daughter as well and a brand-new grandchild. "We're having dinner at the house. We want you all to stop by and celebrate. Mom's cooking your favorite."

"We'll be there, Dad," Edward confirmed, heading in the opposite direction as they left the courtroom.

Hand in hand, Bella walked from the courtroom to find her father and Lucas waiting near a bench. The second Luke saw Edward; he ran across the marble floor. "Daddy! I want ice cream; Papa said I have to ask you and Mommy. Can we get ice cream?"

About two weeks ago, Luke had started calling Edward daddy, and every time he said the word, a streak of warmth would shoot straight to Bella's heart. Squeezing Edward's fingers, she released his hand so he could pick Luke up and hug him. "I think we can work something out, little man. Were you good for Papa?"

"Yes," Luke nodded, his little nose wrinkling as he snorted, leaning his head against Edward's chin. "He said I couldn't have any if I didn't listen."

The whole family left the courthouse, the hot Georgia sun bearing down relentlessly as Charlie questioned Edward. "So, what was the verdict?"

"They rescinded my charges. The judge declared a mistrial. The judge said I'm entitled to restitution for the time I served for the harsh penalty of murder." Edward opened the Mustang's door and watched Luke scramble inside. As soon as he climbed into his seat, Edward pulled the seatbelt across him and buckled him in. Dropping a kiss on his son's head, he backed out of the car, his gaze momentarily meeting and holding Luke's. His heart thudded with happiness as he stared into the toddler's eyes.

Despite Luke's biological father, Edward happily claimed him as his own, and each time that little boy grinned at him, he melted a fraction. Tearing his eyes away from the boy, he focused on Charlie and offered him his hand. "I want to thank you for everything you've done for me. I couldn't have done any of it without you. Thanks for believing in me and supporting me when I felt lost."

"You deserve it," Charlie's gaze danced between Edward and Bella. Charlie couldn't have been prouder to have this man as part of his family. Perhaps soon, Bella and Edward would solidify their relationship and future together.

If he were to handcraft a son, Edward Cullen would be the perfect replica. He could count on Edward to take care of his daughter, and that was something every man wanted for his kid. "Are we heading to the house for dinner, or are we going out?"

"Um … My parents are insisting we celebrate and are having a cookout. We would be honored if you were to come over. It's for family, and we are family." Edward explained as Bella started the car and turned on the air, full blast. "It really wouldn't be a party without you."

Charlie shrugged as he nodded. "If you are sure it won't be an intrusion, I'd love to come by for a while. Need to get out of that house and start meeting new people at some point."

"We're going directly there, so you can just follow us over," Bella informed as she closed the door and fanned the heat from her face. "The Cullens are big on family, and you are definitely part of our family."

Twenty minutes later, Bella sat at the table for dinner. Her gaze danced around from one smiling face to the next, finally coming to rest on Edward. She came to Georgia a year and a half ago with nothing more than shattered dreams. In a matter of months, with this man at her side, she'd discovered a whole new sense of belonging. She couldn't be happier if she'd hand carved those dreams with a whittling knife.

Bella's hand came up to rest on her flat abdomen. In approximately seven months, they would be welcoming a warm bundle of joy into the world. Yeah—life didn't get any better than this, she surmised. Considering the stress of Edward's court appearance, Bella had held off telling him, but now, surrounded by family, she was just about to tell him when he rose from his chair.

With her brow drawing tight, Bella watched him closely as he came to her seat. And with everyone watching, he lowered to one knee. Instantly, she was alert, knowing exactly what was happening. The organ in her chest gave a leap of excitement, pattering wildly as she stared into his warm eyes.

The people around the table seemed to disappear as Edward took Bella's hand in his, his thumb caressing her knuckles as he cleared his throat. While a bright smile played across his face, worry etched his brow. Digging into his pocket, Edward retrieved the velvet box and popped the lid open to reveal a simple diamond ring.

"Bella Ann Swan, you entered my life at a time when I'd given up the thought of ever having a family of my own. You are beautiful, sweet, and the kindest woman I've ever known. Would you do me the pleasure of becoming my wife?"

Bella chanced a look around the table to discover several beaming gazes staring at the scene unfolding.

Tears filled Bella's gaze as it returned to Edward's handsome face. Over the last year, Bella had been dreaming of this moment. Her throat clamped shut with emotion, and she feared speech would be a trial. Squeezing his fingers, Bella vigorously nodded as her vision blurred.

"Yes."

Her hand shook as Edward pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. With the entire family looking on, he yanked her from the chair and hugged her tightly. Never in a million years could she ever have found as much happiness as she had with Edward Cullen. Sniffling back the urge to cry like a baby, Bella eased back, her hand cupping his jaw. "Edward, I-I have something to tell you."

"Hold me in suspense no longer," Edward grinned down at his new fiancée. When a brief look of hesitation floated across her beautiful face, he dropped a kiss to the tip of her nose. "What's up, baby?"

"Well," Bella started and paused as emotion overwhelmed her. "In about seven months, there will be a new critter running around."

Edward's jaw dropped, and once he regained composure, he gulped. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Dude, she's saying she's pregnant," Emmett belted from across the table with a large grin.

"Really, baby? We're gonna have a baby?" As Edward spoke, the biggest smile Bella had ever seen spread across his face.

"Yes." Bella gasped as Edward pulled her against his chest and hugged her to him. "Does this mean you're excited?"

Ever mindful of Luke, Edward nodded, "Heck, yeah." His large hands floating around her slight form to caress her belly. "I'm the luckiest man in the world. I love you so much, Bella. And I love you too, Luke." He exclaimed as he lifted the little boy in the air.

"The four of us are going to be the happiest family ever. I promise you that."

Please review … Head over and check out THE FORBIDDEN ALLIANCE.

Thanks so much for your dedication to BROKEN WINGS.