FAGE 14. Escape From Reality
Title: Never Say No
Written for: Ninkita
Written and Banner By: brierlynn03
Beta: Tammy
Rating: T
Summary/Prompt used:
'The last thing she needed was another pet. And yet, looking into the foolish happy face and beseeching eyes of the creature in her arms, she knew she had already lost the battle.'
Sometimes in life you get thrown curve balls that you least expect. Bella realizes that sometimes, you just can't say no.
If you would like to see all the stories that are a part of this exchange visit the Facebook group: Fanficaholics Anon: Where Obsession Never Sleeps, or add the C2 to get all the stories direct to your inbox.
(A C2 will be set up for all FAGE 14th Escape from Reality entries, and details will be posted on the Facebook page)
It's days like today that I really wish I never gave Mary Alice Brandon a key to my house.
Why the hell did I think it was a good idea?
Oh yeah, she got my Dad, Charlie to give her my keys and she made copies of them when I was working.
Because the man can't say no to her.
Rolls eyes.
"Isabella! It's time to wake up! We have LOTS to do today!" The meddling little pixie shouts.
"Mary Alice! I don't know what time it is but I sure know it is too damn early for this nonsense." I find my phone on my nightstand and check the time.
Oh, joy.
It's already 6:15 a.m.
On a Saturday morning that I am off. Which is not a normal thing for me.
On my Saturdays that I am lucky enough to have off, I sleep until the herd harasses me.
Thankfully, my father likes to make sure he sees his grand-pups and grand-kitties before he leaves to go fishing. Now that I think about it, this is likely why they don't bug me on those mornings.
"You should be grateful that I let you sleep in this morning. I wanted to be on the road by now and at least halfway to Seattle. If we don't leave by seven on the dot we will miss meeting the loves of our lives! You can't do this to us!"
I look at her like she lost her mind. Which I am sure she did.
"Alice, I love you, but this is stupid. There is no way I am leaving without my babies."
She looks at me like I am crazy.
Even though she was the reason I got two of said babies in the first place. Well. Maybe not the whole reason, but she is the reason they are so spoiled.
You see, if you asked anyone I know why I got my house, they would tell you it was a great deal and I couldn't pass on it.
Which was a great deal and I will forever be grateful for the Marks' family who decided to move and ask me to finish making their mortgage payments.
Two years worth.
Which was roughly about $10,000. Which was quickly paid off. I guess I never used all of the college funds that Charlie saved for me. Thanks, Daddy!
The downside and upside to the house are that it is right next door to the Chief of Police. AKA. My father, Charlie.
It's great because I always have a pet sitter and dog walker since the man never goes anywhere.
But he is always coming over to eat. Because the man burns toast. And water. It's really sad.
Damn, I never meant to go on that tangent.
Anyways back to my babies that fill my beautiful little 3 bedroom rustic cabin.
When Alice and I got our apartment when we were going to school in Seattle, we had found two kittens that were abandoned in a box right next to the door to enter the building. And for some reason, neither of us could let them stay in that box.
That was how little Tiger and Grace came into our lives. Both Grace and Tiger have golden eyes and Grace is a beautiful sleek gray while Tiger is all tiger ginger. Hence his name. They are loving and playful and love being outdoors, Which I only allow when they are collared and leashed walking with us. People think it's weird, but it works.
It wasn't too long after that that we came into contact with two local soldiers who were being deployed to Afghanistan who needed to rehome their puppies. Sadly, both soldiers never made it home.
Which is how we got our little brown and white hound dog, Elvis, and yellow lab, Ziva.
Elvis is an old soul that just loves his ears petted and playing with everyone. And warm blankets. Especially after playing in the snow. He has the sad puppy dog eyes down to a science. Which makes me laugh since Charlie can never say no to him. But he is a fair Poppa and whatever Elvis gets, little Ziva does too.
Ziva unlike her namesake from the T.V. show NCIS is calm and collected. Loyal and sweet. She loves when the leaves fall and she can run into piles just making a mess. Not a huge fan of snow. But loves cuddling with me or Charlie whenever she can.
Riley Biers was a sweet man to all who knew him and sadly for him, he had no family. He was an only child of two only children. His parents died in a car accident while he was in boot camp and had no girlfriend or wife. Riley was on the shorter side, maybe 5'6" with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was more on the skinny side, but still strong.
Riley and I talked about his fears and worries about what he will see. He prayed he was strong enough to handle what was coming and knowing that Elvis was in good hands made his life easier. We agreed to write and when he said goodbye, I knew I would never see him again.
Right before Riley left, he told me about his friend James and that he also had a dog needing to be rehomed. I told Riley to send him over, but I was running out of room in my apartment.
When I met James Sutherland, he seemed so different than Riley.
James Sutherland had a family but none of them were able or willing to take his sweet girl, Ziva. James was taller than Riley, probably 6' tall. His dark brown hair was a stark contrast to his crystal blue eyes
His sister has a child that is 'deathly allergic' to dogs, his mother is in assisted living due to her dementia, and his father died three years ago.
It was then I realized that he hadn't talked to his family in years. We talked for hours as he processed what this deployment might mean for him and with a heavy heart, he tried to mend the bridges that he could.
While he was able to talk to his sister, Bree, she really did not want to deal with the deployment. His mother, Victoria, was having a bad day. She was thinking he was his father and when he didn't remember what she was talking about it caused a big scene.
After hanging up with his mom, I held him as he cried. Ziva came and tried to comfort her Daddy and that seemed to help.
Once he was calm, we agreed to write to each other as often as possible so he could have updates on how Ziva was doing.
Ziva and Elvis already knew each other and that seemed to make the transition for both of them easier.
About a week after James and Riley left, I got a knock on the door by a JAG lawyer informing me that I was listed as both James and Riley's next of kin and would be making decisions for both.
I prayed I would never have to make any decision for either of them other than about the dogs.
I talked to Charlie about my newest additions and what Riley and James needed. He told me not to worry, Forks would be honored to call anyone in the military one of theirs and the town would pray they came home for their dogs.
I knew he was right. Forks folks were good like that.
Life goes on and once I graduated from college, I got a job back in Forks. It was then I got word of the neighbor's wanting to move and gave me the option of taking over their mortgage payments which I gladly did.
James and Riley each got my new address and the writing continued. More so James than Riley.
Riley was not dealing with the deployment well and it was concerning James and me.
James and I wrote to each other and talked to each other on the phone or Skype when our schedules allowed. I grew to really like James and was looking forward to him coming home to the Pacific Northwest. Which, according to James, felt more and more like home than his hometown actually had been for him.
While I can't say that I was in love with James, I knew that the way things were going it would be easy to do. We had an easy friendship and that easy friendship meant that we were able to talk about anything to each other.
We talked about our friends. He heard mostly about Alice and Charlie while I learned about several of his friends over there. Jasper Whitlock and Edward Masen were the two I heard about the most.
Like James, they had families that didn't want to be their family. Edward's father disowned him when he refused to go to law school and take over the family practice like he was expected to. A practice that has been active since great-something grandpa Edward Masen Senior started sometime in the 1890s in Chicago.
Jasper's family is from an old-money Texas oil family that arranged his marriage to a family friend's daughter. A woman that sounded like the devil herself. When he decided that he wanted to marry for love and not wealth, he was disowned and only allowed to take the clothes on his back when he left.
What a bunch of families to be a part of.
In the last letter that I received from James, he thanked me for loving his Ziva enough to take care of her while he was away. As much as he hated being away from Ziva and me, he felt calm knowing she was being well cared for by me. And that Ziva and I had each other to spend time with.
He was thankful for our friendship because it made his days worth living. Just knowing that I was out there somewhere on the other side of the world, made him happy. He wanted us to have a happy life, hopefully together someday. But until then, he was grateful for each letter and picture we shared.
And what now gutted me the most that at the time I didn't fully understand. James wrote that he will forever be grateful for Riley introducing us and had things been different, he would love for us to be something.
That he loves me with all his heart and will gladly wait for me to love him in return. Even though deep in his heart, he knows that I love him even if he hasn't heard it.
He knew from the letters we shared and the time we talked to each other. The plans we made for him to come home to Forks.
James had sent several pictures of himself to me. A few had Edward and Jasper in them.
Edward seemed to be the type to smile whenever he could. Like he had someone out there waiting for him. Someone worth fighting for.
His bright green eyes danced with laughter and his hair was a bright copper color that looked like it could never be tamed. Sometimes he had a beard and when he did, it made him look more manly if that was even possible.
Jasper seemed to have a stick up his ass. His blond hair and blue eyes looked menacing. Like he was there to do a job and nothing more.
I always laughed when I saw Jasper and thought Edward needed to stop pulling his hair when I saw Edward. It may have slipped to James about it on one of our chats and caused James to laugh so hard he nearly peed his pants.
What I didn't realize was that Edward and Jasper were in the room and heard me.
Jasper seemed pissed and ran out of the room yelling every cuss word he could think of. Edward blushed saying hi and left the room as well. Only he left with a smile on his face.
James and I continued our chat happily until it was time for me to go to bed.
Somehow, it almost felt like something strange happened that night. Like instead of thinking about James like normal, I started thinking more about Edward.
But I still continued my calls, chats, care packages, and letters to James as I could. As James did for me.
It was almost three months after my move and days before James and Riley were due home, I had been walking with my herd and Charlie. I had Tiger and Grace in a covered stroller for pets and Ziva and Elvis were on their leashes with Charlie.
He was trying to show them that he was the 'Top Dog' in the family.
Rolls eyes.
Elvis, being the hound that he is, smelled something different. He went searching for the smell and Charlie did an amazing job of showing that he was the top dog by giving me Ziva's leash and following Elvis.
Rolling eyes.
When Elvis found what he was looking for, he had found a small dog a little way in the woods.
How it got there, I couldn't imagine.
Charlie called out for me to go home and get a blanket and a carrier so we could take the dog to the vet's office.
Since we were only two houses down, I did as he asked and after bringing everyone inside, I grabbed a bunch of towels and two carriers, and my car keys. Getting into the car, I drove to where Charlie, Elvis, and the small Yorkie-looking dog were waiting for me. I put Elvis in one of the carriers and drove to the vets.
Luckily, it was a quiet day for my friend, Angela Weber-Chaney. She was able to get us right in and it was determined that the little Yorkie was not chipped and most likely been missing for some time.
When I was told that she had likely been missing for a while and told it would be best to not get attached, I knew that was not going to happen.
I know that I don't need another pet in my life but felt like this little princess was put in my life for a reason.
Filers were posted for a found dog throughout Forks and Clallam county and Charlie, Angela, and I waited to see if anyone was going to respond.
Meds were given as well as instructions on how to care for her and help her gain weight safely.
I thought over names and the only name that I thought would fit her was Winnie.
Once we were done at the vets, Charlie drove us back to our homes and helped me bring Elvis and the new puppy into the house. He threatened to take the newest pup to his house, but I reminded him that he was working the overnight shift in a few hours. He gave me a look and told me we would chat tomorrow.
When I got everyone fed and comfortable for the night. I waited for James to call. He and I agreed that he would call tonight before eight local time.
I was about to start some laundry when I heard someone knock on the door. I thought that it might be Charlie checking on me. I went to open the door and my heart dropped. A site I never wanted to see was standing in front of me. Charlie was standing with a Chaplin.
I didn't know what to think. There was no way that a Chaplin was at my door. I was barely able to listen as Chaplin Carlisle Cullen told me that neither Riley Peter Beirs nor James Vincent Sutherland was coming home. They died together in some kind of accident on their way home.
I later found out that was a lie. That James had known that he was going on one last mission and there was a good chance he was not coming home alive. It killed me that he didn't know my true feelings for him. It hurts me more than words can say.
I knew James' wishes if the worst were to happen was to be buried near Ziva and I so we could visit whenever I could go. Riley really didn't care what happened to his body as he would be dead and unable to care.
While I did not know Riley well as James, I made it my mission that they would have a family even in death.
It brought me peace knowing that James will be close to Ziva and me while we grieved his loss.
When their bodies came home, Forks celebrated each of them as if they were local boys. Just like Charlie said. They had a parade in their honor to escort them from the Port Angeles Airport to the cemetery and a proper military funeral.
James' sister actually came, which surprised me. She was angry with me for making her come to Forks for the services instead of where their family is. Which I think is somewhere in Kansas.
When Chaplin Cullen heard this, he was angry.
"Miss Swan has been more of a sister and friend to your brother than you have ever been. While I understand you have a lot going on, so does Miss Swan. You hurt your brother when you refused to talk to him. Knowing that his last conversation with his sick mother was one thing. She isn't well. But you, you are within your right mind. You should leave. Only family is welcome here."
With a look of resentment, she leaves and never comes back.
Buried in the Forks Community Cemetery, where they get visits from Elvis, Ziva, and me every chance we get.
It might seem strange, but I know that both dogs sense their daddies are near them.
And it brings me comfort that James and I are together at least a bit.
Uggg…
Now back to our regularly scheduled program of fluff.
Elvis, Winnie, and Ziva are barking because they know that Auntie Alice being over means that they are likely to go out.
Grace and Tiger are both sleeping as they know it is too early for this shit on a Saturday. Though, I am sure once they realize that they will be coming for a ride that they will be down.
"Do we really need to have all five of them come with us? Can't we just have Charlie stay with them?"
And this starts the howling of the hound dog.
"You know good and well that Poppa Charlie is already fishing, Mary Alice. And since you are here and already said that I must leave the house, they will be coming. Like it or not."
"I just don't understand the need for the cats to come. They hate the car."
Tiger and Grace take this opportunity to come sprinting into my room and are now meowing at Alice.
I now have all five of my babies in bed with me and yelling in their own voices their disdain for being left home.
"I am going to shower while you deal with the herd. Have fun!" I smile as I run to the bathroom.
Alice is so pissed at the fact I left her with the herd but after a few minutes, she deals with it.
"Come on everyone. Ziva, Win, and Elvis, time for potty! Grace and Tiger, time to eat."
While the herd makes it to the kitchen to be let out and fed, I quickly shower. Once that is done, I do my hair and get dressed. Knowing the amount of driving ahead of us I know better than to dress up as much as I am sure that Alice wants me to.
Somehow, I know that today is not going to end the way that Alice thinks it will.
The thought makes me smile.
Maybe even laugh an evil laugh.
Making my way to the kitchen, I laugh at the scene before me.
The cats have finished eating and the dogs are nearly done.
Alice is looking for a coffee maker forgetting that I don't have one. I fill the tea kettle with water and start boiling water for tea.
Getting the cups out of the cabinet, I grab her Alice in Wonderland mug and my Beauty and the Beast mug then after putting them on the counter, I grab Earl Gray for me and some extra caffeinated tea for her. I am still not sure why she needs it but she says she does.
"Since you are nearly ready, I vote we take your car since it is already herd proofed." I nod and smile.
Of course, it is. Need to have my babies safe!
"So. Why are we going to Seattle this weekend? What is so important?" She sighs like I am missing the point of the matter.
"There is an art show this weekend and at that art show I just KNOW that we are going to meet the men that are meant to be ours."
I can't help but roll my eyes. She has had this feeling for the last three years. It was one of the reasons why she stayed in Seattle when I originally moved back to Forks. She did not want to miss her destiny.
She finally moved back to Forks about seven months ago when she found a house here big enough for her to make her new clothing studio.
Or at least where she is making her new clothing line.
A couple of stores in Forks and Port Angeles have agreed to sell her pieces.
Meanwhile, I am just a teacher and librarian.
I make each of us a quick egg and toast breakfast to make sure that we eat something before we go. Cause if my guess is right, she has nothing planned other than the clothes that we will be wearing to this event.
Wherever that is.
After a quick clean-up, I make sure that I have everything that I need for the herd.
Food, blankets, bowls, carriers, leashes and collars, stroller, and clothes for myself.
I start by starting the car to ensure it is warm enough for the herd in the back. Alice sits in the passenger seat so there is someone with anyone in the car.
Getting everything but the cats' carriers in the car. Knowing that it is easier to get the larger dogs into the carriers outside than it is to carry them, I get Winnie, Grace, and Tiger into their large shared carrier and put them in the backseat in the middle.
Ziva and Elvis get into their seats and are strapped in. I had never thought I would need puppy seatbelts before these two came into my life and am glad I accidentally got an SUV with those features.
Looking at the time and seeing that we have some time to kill, I decide to take a detour to visit James and Riley.
Knowing that it will make Ziva and Elvis happy to have been to see them makes me think it will be worth the trip.
"Detour?" Alice asks.
I just nod, making my way to the cemetery.
Knowing the way by heart, I make my way toward the newer section. When we get close to their section, I notice another car is where I normally park to get to them. Which is strange for this time of day.
"Do you mind staying with Grace and Tiger in the car?" I ask.
"While I want to stay, something is telling me we should make a family trip. Everyone is coming along."
I can only nod and after parking and turning the car off, get Ziva out of her seat, handing her to Alice, then the cats and Winnie in their carrier. I put their leashes on and keep them in until I have Elvis out of his seat.
Alice takes the cats and I get the pups and we are all off. Ziva and Elvis lead us to James and Riley's plots and oddly enough there are two men standing by James and Riley's graves.
Both of them were in an Army uniform.
Maybe they served with James and Riley somehow?
Elvis starts howling and Ziva starts happily barking and they try to break out of their collars.
Both men turn and look towards us and when they see us, they look shocked.
Alice is quiet as a church mouse and that is scaring me.
The two men come towards us and as they come closer, I am in shock.
As I live and breathe, it's Jasper Whitlock and Edward Masen.
I can't take my eyes off them.
That's when I hear Alice whimper.
"You are here. How are you here?" I look at her in confusion when I realize who she thinks they are.
The men we are supposed to meet tonight in Seattle.
"Bella? Is that you?" One of them asks me.
I look over at his uniform and notice it says Masen.
"Edward?" He just nods and pulls me into a hug.
"Oh, how I have wanted to meet you. A woman with a heart like yours is worth more than all the diamonds in the world." His hug feels warm and safe.
Loving and kind.
I did not realize that I needed a hug. At least, not until I got one from Edward.
It takes everything I have not to break down and cry. Everything that has happened within the last year came crashing down on me and after breaking free from Edward's arms, Elvis, Winnie, Ziva, and I walked to James and Riley's plots.
Once we get there I let go of their leashes knowing that they won't go anywhere else.
Ziva sits on James' plot while Elvis sits on Riley's. Winnie sits with me in between the two.
Looking at the stones in front of me, I feel like something in my life is missing.
Edward comes and sits next to me.
We are quiet.
I am enjoying the peace of the moment.
I can hear Jasper and Alice talking somewhere just far enough away that you can barely hear what they are talking about.
Alice comes and brings me Grace and Tiger, handing me their leashes telling me she's going to the diner with Jasper.
I nod and watch her and Jasper walk away.
Edward looks at the cats and then looks at me like I lost my mind.
I give him a look and he starts busting a gut.
"I thought Sutherland was lying that you took the cats for a walk. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would see two cats with collars wearing leashes, walking because they want to. Like it's a normal thing."
I shake my head. "It's normal for them. You have to realize that they were kittens when I got Elvis and Ziva. I never take them by myself because it's a circus and a half with the five of them. Even if I use the pet stroller I have for the cats and Winnie, it's a lot." Looking at Winnie, it makes me think of the day she was found. "Did you know Elvis found Winnie on the day I found out James and Riley died?"
Edward shakes his head no.
"My dad, Charlie, and I were walking my herd spending time together. We live next door so it happens often. He was trying to teach Elvis and Ziva he is the 'Top Dog' of the family and was failing. I had Tiger and Grace in the stroller. Elvis smelled something off and dragged Charlie to Winnie. We brought her to the vets and I knew something was telling me she was mine. We needed each other. A few hours later, my Dad was at the door with Chaplin Cullen, telling me James and Riley died. It was gut-wrenching. James and I became close while he was over there. I considered him one of my best friends. It's hard to believe sometimes that he is dead and won't be calling or writing to me anymore. That he won't be walking through the front door of my house. That he won't…" I am stopped by the sound of a small cry.
A cat maybe.
Looking at Elvis, I know he's not going to move. Ziva won't either.
"Did you hear that?" I look at Edward and he nods.
I listen carefully and wait to hear the sound again.
A few minutes later, I hear it again, this time it's louder.
Elvis hears it and his ears are at attention.
"Looks like we have to find something." I get myself up off the ground and after wiping myself off, I walk a few steps when I hear the meow again. Only this time it's a lot closer.
I look down and see a small ginger cat standing on James' headstone. Right on top of where his middle name is.
This can't be! I don't need another pet! Five is way more than I can handle. Nobody is going to want a crazy lady with three dogs and three cats. Nobody in their right mind wants me now.
I close my eyes and think of James. Could this be a sign?
I look down at the little kitten in front of us.
Ziva gets up and walks over to the kitten and starts giving it a bath.
Ziva has never given any of the others a bath.
I look at Edward and he is in shock.
He makes his way over to the kitten and gently tries to pick it up. The cat puts up a fight hissing at Edward like he's a big bad cat making both of us laugh.
"Sutherland told me that there may be a time when he wouldn't be there for you. It hurt him to think that. But after you told me about how you and your dad found Winnie on the day you found out about his death, it reminded me of a conversation that we had. One of the reasons why I am here was because I told Sutherland I would do what I could to look out for you. Take care of you." A tear runs down his cheek and he quickly runs it away. "He told me that your heart was so big that you could never let anyone suffer alone. That he would do what he could from the other side to watch over you and occasionally maybe find you a new friend." I looked at the kitten in Ziva's paws and sighed.
"I guess I have no choice but to name him then, do I?" Edward laughed.
"Only if we call him Vinny. He hated his middle name." I laughed at the thought but when I looked at the kitten, it seemed almost perfect.
"Let's think some more about that. In the meantime, I am sure my friend and vet Angela will kick my ass with another animal being added to the family." Edward laughs and shakes his head.
"I just hope your father doesn't hate me for talking you into keeping him."
I shake my head at Edward and smile. "What you don't realize is that you are now stuck with me and this kitty. Child support and all that."
After calling Ziva and Elvis, they stayed where they were. Ziva was whimpering and Elvis howled.
Looking in the direction where they were looking, I saw James standing there with a sad smile on his face.
Tears filled my eyes knowing that he sent Edward to meet me and take care of me in a way that James now couldn't do.
Edward comes behind me and his breath hitches.
"He's here isn't he?" I nod.
Edward looked at me and I looked towards where James was still standing. Edward put his arm around me and started to talk.
"When you told me about the woman who stole your dog and heart, I was jealous. The way you described her was everything I ever wanted in a woman. I was happy that you had each other in whatever way you could. When I saw pictures of her, I knew she was something special and needed to be cherished. I knew you wanted to go home to her and have that time to grow your relationship. I wished that you both could have had more time. But I will always remember that you asked me to take care of her. The woman you loved with your whole heart. I will take care of her for as long as she lets me." I smile at Edward and look over at James.
"I love you, James. Thank you for everything. Be at peace." I blow him a kiss and he blows me one back.
I swear I hear him telling me he loves me and Ziva with all his heart.
Then he turns and walks away.
Ziva starts to cry and I do my best to comfort her.
A few minutes later, she is calmer.
I am exhausted from the day and call my herd to me. Grabbing leashes, Edward and I get to my car and I put everyone in their carriers. Ziva is not happy about the kitten being away from her so I put the kitten with her. Driving back to my house is a quiet ride.
Knowing that James sent both Winnie and Vinny, makes me feel more connected with him. Knowing that he sent Edward to me makes me know that in the end, he will be okay.
After dropping everyone but Ziva and Vinny at the house and bringing them to the vet's to get Vinny checked.
When Angela sees me she rolls her eyes.
"Can you ever say no?"
"I can. But sometimes, loved ones send you gifts. Damned if I pass over a gift from someone that loves me."
"Never say no." Edward says in return.
"Never say no." I agree.
After the kitten is given a clean bill of health, he comes home and Edward and I start to get to know each other.
And I realize that I don't want to name my newest kitten after James. Because someday, I want to name a child after him.
So I call him Tony. After Anthony DiNozzo from NCIS.
And Edward's middle name.
Like I said, he was stuck with me.
Because we know we have been given the greatest gift of all.
Love's blessing.
Fifty years later
Listening to the rain pound all around me, it brings back so many memories of the years that brought me here.
Pictures are everywhere. Some amazing times. Other times of pain.
Edward and I got married not long after we met, him taking my last name. Knowing what we knew of each other and what James wanted for us made that an easy choice. It was also an easy choice for him to use my last name because he wanted our children to be proud of their family. Which he knew that they would be, having Charlie as family.
This made Charlie and I both cry on my wedding day. Edward never told either Charlie or me that he wanted to become a Swan. So, it was an amazing wedding gift from him to me.
My dress was a simple and modest dress that boasted a square neckline, buttons down the back, and long sleeves with a sweeping skirt.
Edward wore his Army dress blues and with thanks to Chaplin Carlisle Cullen, who gave a beautiful sermon. And made it possible for Edward to have the Swan name tape for the wedding.
Watching him take the Masen name tape off and put the Swan one on made it so much more real.
Marriage was never easy, but it brought both of us comfort.
Just after we got married, I became pregnant with our first and second children.
A son, James "Jamie" Charles Swan, and a daughter, Delilah "Lila" Marie Swan after nearly thirty-four hours of labor. It almost made me want to never have kids again.
James after the man who brought Edward and I together.
Edward was deployed at the time of their births, which made me fall into postpartum depression. Thankfully, Charlie helped me to see the signs and got me to seek help.
Even though he was half a world away, we made our marriage work. As soon as he was able, he took his leave from the Army. While he did not retire, I was never happier than the last time that he came home days away from the end of his contract.
He took a job with Charlie at the police station and after Charlie retired as Police Chief, he made a run for the position of Police Chief and got it.
Several people in town enjoyed that a "Swan" was still in office.
Our third child, Angela Rose, was born when the twins were nearly four and just as sweet and kind as the aunt she is named for. Who helped give birth to her.
I was supposed to take half of the herd to see Angela when I started feeling contractions while in her office. Knowing that it took over thirty hours the first time, I thought that I would have time to get this last appointment done before the crazy started. Sadly, my water broke the minute that I went into the exam room.
By the time I realized what was happening, Angela came in and realized what had happened, I was nearly eight centimeters dilated.
Edward was called and just barely made it to the birth of his daughter. It was nothing like Jamie and Lila's birth. It was calmer and filled with more love and happy tears than I thought was possible.
All because Edward was with me.
In thanks for everything that Angela has ever done and ever will do for us, we named our last daughter Angela.
Alice and I were really distant from each other. She was bitter about the life that Edward and I had together was nothing like the life she got with Jasper.
She and Jasper had a very volatile relationship that was not helped by their quick pregnancy.
Jasper never wanted children, so when Jaspen Luna Brandon was born, Jasper lost it.
He accused Alice of trying to trap him with the child and refused to accept her. Daughters are of no use to him even if he wanted a child.
Alice was forced to give Jaspen up for adoption. Edward was pissed at his once good friend for doing that to his child and the woman he claimed to love with his whole heart.
Alice went into a deep spiraling depression which was understandable.
Had we not been pregnant with the twins, we would have adopted her in a heartbeat. It pained me, the fact that Alice was going to lose her daughter.
Thankfully, Chaplan Cullen was looking to adopt a child and when he and his wife, Esme, met Jaspen, they were in love with her and adopted her quickly. They asked for an open adoption because when they learned why Alice was placing for adoption Jaspen, the Cullens knew she was going to regret her choice. So they wanted to let Alice and her family get updates and see her when they wanted.
Alice and Jasper never took the chance. They planned to move to Texas to be closer to his family. The family that disowned him.
Sadly, they were in a car accident after Jamie, Lila, and Jaspen turned three on their way to Houston and it killed them both. Jasper's family wanted nothing to do with either of them, so they were buried in Forks Cemetery, not far from James and Riley.
The biggest regret in my life is letting her go to Houston when she had people that loved her here.
Edward and I became closer to Carlisle and Esme since Jamie and Lila are only three weeks older than Jaspen is. So close that once Carlisle left the Army, he moved to Forks and became a pastor at the Methodist Church in town after Angela's father retired. Which we still attend, loving that Jaspen Cullen-Swan is the pastor now in her father's footsteps.
Jamie married Jaspen shortly after they graduated high school. They both knew that they were the real deal and didn't want to wait.
She went to seminary and he became a Forks police officer and eventually Chief of Police.
Jamie and Jaspen knew that adoption was going to be involved in their family because of the good it did in Jaspen's life. They adopted a daughter, Lakelyn, after two years of marriage and were foster parents for twenty years, adopting seven. Serena, Meridith, Peter, Thomas, Nathan, Victoria, and Henry. They thought they couldn't have kids, but after adopting Henry, God gave them Elizabeth Marie and Anthony Edward. Yeah. They always have a full house!
Lila married a guy she met in college, Jacob Black from nearby La Push.
After being married for five years, they adopted twins, Alexander "Alec" and Jane. They had a daughter, Rachel three years later and a son, Embry the following year.
Angela married her high school sweetheart. Ironically, Ben and Angela Chaney's son, Benjamin, Junior.
Benjamin and Angela 2.0 became teachers, him a high school history and her a middle school English. They had enough nieces and nephews so they stopped after the first pregnancy. Twin boys. Liam and Finn were welcome additions to the family.
Each of the kids did their things. Some got married while others did not.
The strangest part of our marriage until recently, was a phone call from an attorney in Chicago, letting Edward know that he had a trust fund that he was supposed to have access to when he turned twenty-five. That was never touched by his parents, which was left by his grandparents, who were proud of the man Edward became. He was thirty-five when he got it.
Except for getting married and changing his last name. But that was understood.
Even though we never worried about money before, we really stopped worrying once we got the notice of the trust fund.
This brings me to why I am in a room looking at pictures of my marriage and life.
Of Edward's life.
Edward's smiling face is everywhere. Which has put a huge hole in my heart.
My healthy husband, who has been my rock for the last fifty years, died two days after our fiftieth anniversary.
He died in the way most people want to. In their sleep in the arms of the one they love.
When I realized what happened, I was beside myself. I never thought that we would part. In my head, we would live forever like vampires.
The last of the visitors left the funeral home and that leaves me alone with our children, in-laws, and grandchildren old enough to be here.
Looking at the last photo we took together brings tears in my eyes. Each of us have aged and are not as skinny as we used to be, our hair has grayed, but you can see the love between us. Each of us smiling so wide that it hurts.
Remembering the love that we gave each other over the years. The fights. The making up.
The loved one we lost. Charlie, Edward's parents, Carlisle and Esme in a car accident, several of Edward's Army mates, two of our grandchildren, Lakelyn of a seizure and a baby that Angela lost before her birth, I call her my guardian Angel.
The original herd and each new herd member we had afterward. Too many to name and count. Until fifteen years ago when we decided it was too much for us.
Dancing to one of our favorite songs, Amazed by Lonestar. A song that we found by chance on the radio while we were in Houston getting Alice and Jasper to be buried in Forks. At the time, I looked at it as a sign that Alice was okay and wanted Edward and I to be happy.
Maybe it was foolish of me but it gave me comfort.
Seeing that picture, I know that Edward would not want me to mourn him forever. Not at this stage of the game.
I look over at the family that God has blessed me with and I feel a presence I have not felt in years.
I look to my right and see James, smiling. Tears fill my eyes.
"Are you here to take me home?" James laughs, shaking his head.
"Like I would trust your husband to do that job. He had his chance and he couldn't do it." I look at him in confusion.
"When he passed, there was a moment when you were close to coming with him. But he did not want something to happen to your body had you two not been discovered quickly. Which he had nothing to worry about with the number of people you two are responsible for. Jamie is my favorite." I laugh and roll my eyes.
"How is this going to work? I don't want to hurt anyone." He looks over to where Edward's body is.
"Go kneel and pray. Hold his hand and he will help you come to our party." I look over to where Edward's body is and I gasp. I see Edward. But not the Edward he was before he died. The Edward from when we met.
"Hello, Love. I am excited to be with you again. I missed you."
"I miss you too." I grab his old wrinkled hand that matches mine.
After several minutes of praying, I can feel my heartbeat slowly lessening. Looking at my hand, I can see it looking younger and younger.
I stand up, not having the aches and pains that I had before. Looking in a mirror at the other end of the room, I see myself in the body I had when I met Edward.
It makes me smile.
I stand watching the room around me. It takes a few minutes for Jamie to come over and check on me. My son always had a way of knowing things were going down.
Looking at his father, then at me, he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Be at peace with Dad, Mom. I love you." He kisses my head and asks one of the undertakers to check on me.
It would appear they never had an experience like this before.
"Well, it's about time you came to see me. After everything, I did for you over the years!" James says, barely containing his laughter.
"You are a man I will forever be thankful for. You gave me one of my babies. And brought Edward to me. Who helped give me our children. Your involvement also gave us our daughter-in-law."
I am sad when I think of all that Alice missed and how much I missed her.
"I saw everything. Carlisle and Esme were perfect parents for Jaspen. Our children are perfect for each other." I look and see Alice just like I saw her the last time we met. Only happier.
Jasper is behind her and he looks so happy it's sickening. Riley looks amazingly different than the last time I saw him. Like he is where he was supposed to be.
"I am not sure I could have competed with Masen once you two met, truth be told." James smiles.
He pulls me into a hug and in that hug, I know that he is right.
We would have been good friends. Best friends maybe but never anything more.
My heart has only belonged to Edward. Since the moment I saw him on a video chat with James.
"Idiot, my name's not Masen. It's Swan." The guys laugh at each other and it makes me smile.
I look back towards what used to be my life, I am grateful for the many times in my life I never said no and the times I said yes.
~The End~
AN:
Thank you Deonne for hosting FAGE again! Thank you to my Beta for this piece, the lovely
Miss Tammy! It was a pleasure to work with you! Michele and Diana, for your help prereading!
And mostly, thanks to Ninkita for giving me such wonderful prompts! I hope that you enjoy your stories!
Happy FAGE Day!
~Brier
