AN: The last chapter and only an epilogue left.

Enjoy.

Chapter 18

The wedding went off without a hitch. Jessica was a planner to an obsessive degree. The union between her and Mike would be no different. She had all aspects of the ceremony planned no matter what catastrophe could possibly occur. The monsoon outside that was causing large puddles to form outside hadn't worried her a bit. I was amazed watching Jess solved every dilemma in her lacy white dress. Her skirts swirled as ordered around caterers and bartenders. Mike just followed her with a patient smile on his face.

They say that rain is lucky to have on your wedding day. I certainly hoped this was going to be true for them.

Two warm arms wrapped around my waist. Edward's voice whispered in my ear, "The maid of honor isn't supposed to outshine the bride."

"I think you might be a little partial." I turned to face him with a smirk. "A fan of fuchsia, Mr. Cullen?"

The dress was a satin monstrosity of dark pink. I seemed to recall that this very dress was pasted into her dream wedding binder when we were in high school. We would lounge on her bed with issues of Modern Bride and dream about our special days. I was content just to look at the pictures. Jess, on the other hand, cut out images and pasted them to the pages. Additional notes and drawings would be added using glitter pens. It wasn't only impressive by high school girl standards, because I was still in awe of it.

Edward stroked the fabric at my waist. "I would like you in a burlap sack."

"Charmer." I gave him a peck on the lips.

During the ceremony, I couldn't help glancing at him sitting in the pews with my parents. His eyes were always trained on me and a loving smile on his face. The only time he didn't look pleased was when I was escorted down the aisle by one of Mike's fraternity brothers. I think his name was Tom. The guy smelled like pepperoni. I was very pleased to inform him that I in fact had a boyfriend.

"Alice due soon? She seems—" Edward began to say. I saw him glancing over to where Alice was standing next to Jasper. There wiggly daughter dressed in a cotton candy colored flower girl dress was desperately trying to free herself from her father's arms. Knowing little Ella, she was trying to get to the wedding cake for a taste test.

I smiled at Jasper's attempt to placate his daughter by twirling. "She's ready to pop. Ella came on the early side. I was surprised that she made it to the wedding. Alice was worried she would be in the hospital and miss out on the festivities."

Edward kissed my head. "They did everything so young. Most people don't get married right out of high school."

"They just knew it was right. God, the way she looks at him is just amazing. I noticed it after you moved away with your mom. It was probably a couple of months later are so. Alice would just listen to every word that came out of his mouth like he was speaking about magic. Jasper would just hold her hand when she was feeling out of sorts. He brought my friend back to me. He's still a little shit, but I kind of like him now."

Edward pulled me closer. "Everything you say to me is magic."

"I love your cheese, mister," I gave him a peck on the cheek. "Have you talked to Alice since you came into town?"

"No." Edward looked extremely uncomfortable. He rubbed the back of neck.

"Then it's about time then."

"I don't want to make her uncomfortable. Alice went through a lot with all that Emmett shit. She doesn't deserve to relive it," he explained. Edward glanced over to the Whitlock family and looked sad.

The thing about the past is that it can cripple a person. You can hold onto it with an iron grip and let all the negative things that occurred bury you. The alternative is to rise above. Those memories can fade and new happier memories can be made in the present. Alice taught me that by watching her truly be happy. She was still creative and goofy, but she was more grounded now. The past no longer had a power over her.

"You two done staring at Jasper's poor attempt at cake protection?" Jacob came over to us. I tugged on the black braid that hung over his shoulder. I still liked petting it. He kissed my cheek. "Looked good up there, Bella girl."

My friend had flourished in New York. He wrote for a magazine critiquing art exhibits around the city. Home was now in a place that had a busy night life and an atmosphere of creativity as taxi cabs' horns filled the air around him. I missed him when he flew back to the Big Apple and was overjoyed when he returned for a visit.

Jacob turned to Edward and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Good to see you, man. It seems you are the reason Bella has been so sunny lately."

"It's mutual," Edward told him. He gave my waist a squeeze.

"Alice wants to talk to you," Jake informed Edward. "She didn't want to spook you by running over and bear hugging you. It wouldn't be running actually. Alice is more of a waddler now. I wonder if the baby will just fall out? It would be easier than if I have to fly out again for the birth of little Jasper."

I punched him in the shoulder. "Be nice, Jake. You're the godfather!"

"It's a good thing too. I'm the only person that will help that kid get any style." Jake glanced over at our very pregnant friend. "Alice is getting restless, Ed. It won't be safe for either of you if she comes over her. That basketball in her belly will make you drop to the floor."

Alice indeed looked like she was about to bolt over to us. Luckily, the squeals from her daughter distracted her.

"You sure?" Edward asked nervously.

"It will be fine, Edward." I squeezed his hand and led him to the vibrating Alice.

"Ali, be still or Jess's wedding is going to become an actual birthday for your baby." I gave her a hug. "How you feeling?"

"I'm absolutely brilliant, sweets!" Alice exclaimed. "Isabella, Edward is looking nervous. Is he scared of my little monster?"

Her little monster was about to dart out of Jasper's arms and attach herself to Edward. It seems that Ella was thought Edward was Prince Charming.

"Prince!" She chortled.

Jasper grabbed her tighter. "Hello, guys. I'm going to take this one to dance before she attacks Edward with cake hands."

The little girl had both hands covered in icing.

"Oh fu . . . Fudge," said Alice. "Jessica is going to flip."

The large cake decked in icing roses indeed had two empty spots where the child's hands had been. Jacob smirked. "I'll turn it around and we'll pray that Jess doesn't notice."

"Hey Jasper, you don't dance. It's more like convulsions," I teased.

He rolled his eyes. "Learned my moves from you, Bella."

Alice laughed at us and turned to Edward. "Give me some hugs, Cullen."

His hug was tentative. Alice wasn't having it at all. She pulled him in tighter. It looked cumbersome due to her large belly.

"Cullen, we're okay." She knocked his shoulder with his. "I'm a tough cookie. It takes more than that fucker McCarty to bring this girl down. Now I need you to be okay too."

Edward took her hand. "I will be now."

"Good!" She removed her hands and clapped them. "You and Isabella again? I like this!"

"I like it too," he agreed.

"You going to marry her?" Alice's eyes were twinkling.

"I am, Alice Whitlock." Edward held out his hand. "Would you care to help me plan a way to get her to agree?"

She shook it. There was a mischievous look on her face. "Let's dance and plot, Mr. Cullen!"

Jacob chuckled and swung an arm around my shoulder. "They're planning your future, Bells."

"They are."

"What shall your answer be, my friend?"

I couldn't help beaming. "Yes, Jacob. My answer will be yes."

He took my hand and spun me around. "Let's join them on the dance floor and play spy?"

"I'll say yes to that too."

XXXXXX

The wedding had ended hours ago. Edward was in the bathroom and I was on his bed resting on my stomach, reading an old copy of IT that I found on his bookshelf. The cover was tattered and the pages had that smell of mildew like it was once buried in a drafty bookstore.

"I see my girl isn't so scared of clowns anymore," Edward announced.

He stood next to the bed. The pajama pants he wore were low on his hips. The rest of him was bare. The man was always leaving me breathless by his beauty.

"I'm a big girl now." I pulled off my glasses and started nibbling on the end.

"You keep those on. You look like a sexy schoolteacher. I'm a lucky man." He crawled on the bed toward me. "You want me to take you to the circus?"

"Clowns will kill you. Let's not talk all crazy. You are way too overdressed, Edward." My fingers went to the waistband of his pants. "Take these off."

He let me pull them down and I licked the skin I found there. The groan that escaped him made me feel flush.

"You need to shed some clothes too," Edward replied huskily, as he moved my mouth from sucking on him.

"I thought you liked me in your clothes?" I asked innocently. I went onto my back as he started to unbutton his Oxford shirt that I wore around his apartment.

"You look best without any." He pushed open the fabric and his fingers stroked my skin. His thumb rubbed a nipple. "There it is. My favorite look that you wear so well."

"Fucking kiss me, Edward."

His mouth latched onto mine. We rolled around on the bed as we kissed and touched. I squeezed his ass and he nibbled my breasts. Edward licked down my chest and tickled my belly button with his tongue.

"I almost kneed you in the chin!" I laughed.

He tickled me more. Then he grew solemn. "I don't want to lose this again."

"You won't." I sat up and put my hands into his hair so he had to look in my eyes. See the truth that was reflected in them. "We've grown up and now we can fully love each other. It was always there and now we can experience it without worry."

Edward pulled the glasses off my face and tossed them on the floor. "I love you."

"I love you too." I kissed him slowly and our tongues twisted. I was moved onto his lap so he could enter me. Our movements were slow. This wasn't about instant satisfaction. It was an expression of our love. Skin pressed together and hearts beating in unison.

When we finally climaxed my heart felt so full, I thought it would burst from my joy.

Edward moved me off his lap and pulled us down onto the pillows. My head rested on his chest.

"Marry me?" His words were whispers.

"You took my question, Edward Cullen." I sat up so I could look at his face.

He smiled. "If you're asking, I'll say yes."

"I'm asking."

Edward pulled me closer. "Yes. Now answer my question."

"Yes."

"I have a ring!" He rolled over to the nightstand and pulled out a small box. "It was my mom's and—"

It was a simple gold band and there was a small diamond.

Edward continued, "It was her mother's engagement ring. Nana and my grandfather were so happy—"

"That will do, pig. That will do." I let him put it on my finger. It was perfection.

"You just quoted that pig movie." He started laughing.

I giggled. "Babe is a classic!"

He kissed my ring finger. "I love it on you."

"I love you on me."

Immediately, I was rolled onto my back and Edward hovered over me. "That can be arranged."

Life has a funny way of doing the unexpected. I was just a girl with a crush who was just trying to find her way. I never imagined a happy ending with Edward Cullen. Now that I have it, I will hold on tightly and never let it go.