DISCLAIMER: All characters and story world belong to SM. All lyrical references and quotes are property of their original artist. No copyright infringement intended.

[Beta'd by: UnBeta'd]
Special thanks to: Ocdmess

Last chapter I asked you what your ultimate love song was.
My answer: The cliché part of me wants to say Bryan Adams – Have you ever really loved a woman? …but the emo side of me is saying Nine Inch Nails – The Fragile, or The Cure – There is no if.

Chapter Playlist:
Evanescence – My Immortal (Piano Only)

http:/ /www[dot]youtube[dot]com/user/BeautifullySacred

*Warning – Romance and fluff. Don't drink or eat anything sweet while reading.*

Chapter 29
BPOV
Friday, September 15th, 2006

After the pack headed home, the family pretty much split up. Rosalie and Emmett decided that they would go for another honeymoon, and Garrett and Kate left for Iceland. Alice and Jasper decided to pay Charlotte and Peter a visit which left Edward and I alone with Esme in the giant house while Carlisle worked. Tanya wasn't handling the loss of her sister as well as Kate was, but she also didn't have the same kind of support and distraction as her newly love-struck sister. Eleazar and Carmen tried to be there for Tanya, but she became destructive and bitter, lashing out at everyone.

She left in the middle of the night a few days later, only calling to inform Carmen that she was alive after she had gone missing for nearly twenty hours. We were all concerned about her, but when we called Alice to ask her to search, she insisted that we let Tanya do what she needed to do in order to grieve, and she would call us if anything changed that we should be worried about.

The tension was still high, but the lack of bodies floating through the house helped ease things. Edward had been shielding his thoughts from me when he knew I was listening, and I quickly grew suspicious as my birthday drew nearer. I would catch him distracted a lot, but when I brought him into my primary shield, he would smirk and change thoughts quickly.

On the eve of my birthday, I walked into the living room as he was on the phone with the airline company. He finished booking two tickets somewhere, thanked the receiver and pressed end.

"Tell me those aren't for tomorrow," I said with my hands on my hips.

"They aren't for tomorrow." He stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing my forehead gently. "They are for tonight," he whispered.

I took a step back, pulling myself forcefully out of his arms and scoffed at him. "Edward!" I said angrily.

"What?" His expression was careful and innocent.

"Where?" I asked with a clipped tone.

"It's a surprise."

"I'll just find out once we get to the terminal," I argued.

"Exactly, so let me keep the surprise for the next," he glanced up at the wall clock, "three hours."

I scoffed once more, slapping at his bicep. He quickly pulled back with a smirk and I stumbled forward. He caught me gently and held me against his chest tightly as he kissed my nose. I scrunched up my face and looked up at him bitterly.

"Please? Humor me?" he begged. His eyes were light butterscotch, and as I looked into them, I felt my resolve fade.

"Fine," I grumbled as I pulled out of his arms. "But I need to know what to pack," I said coldly.

"Just wear something comfortable, but not too casual, and bring the passport Jasper got you while we were on the road," he said with a wide grin.

He'd won, and he knew it.

I mumbled my understanding and headed upstairs to find something suitable. As I stared at my closet of hardly worn clothes, I swore under my breath. This was the kind of situation I needed Alice or Garrett for, neither of which were here. I dug through shoe boxes, looking for I don't know what, and grumbled under my breath.

"My birthday… what if I don't want to go anywhere… no one ever takes me seriously… hate freaking birthdays… not even a real birthday…"

"Bella?" Esme said quietly from the bedroom doorway.

I jumped slightly and squeaked.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I was wondering if you needed some help. I heard the commotion, and, well…" Her voice trailed off as her smile grew wider, forming creases at her eyes.

I huffed and let my arms fall to my sides with a soft thud. "Sure, thanks Esme."

"No problem." She walked smoothly toward my closet and stepped in beside me, looking around. She took careful steps over the shoe boxes as she walked deeper into the closet. "So, you need something comfortable, but classy," she said, sliding hangers down further as she gave each garment a brief once over.

"Something like that," I mumbled.

She rummaged for a few more minutes before holding two pieces up in the air and examining them together.

"Here. What do you think?" she asked as she turned to face me.

I'd worn the shirt during one of our shows. It was backless, but had long, billowy sleeves that gathered at the wrist. The pants were black, straight-legged and modest. It looked comfortable but still nice. I smiled and nodded slightly. "Yeah, I like it. Thanks, Esme."

She handed me the two hangers and kissed my cheek. "My pleasure." She patted the top of my hand and hesitated in front of me. "He's just trying to make up for the past, you know," she said very quietly.

I furrowed my brow and studied her expression. She looked slightly crestfallen, but her smile lingered.

"I know."

"You may not think that it's necessary, and it really isn't, but he wants to show you, not just tell you. Men are visual creatures," she said with a slight smirk. "If they don't have an image, a solid memory to hold to the occasion, it gets lost amongst the other clutter in their head. Let him show you. I promise it won't be as terrible as you think it will be."

I nodded and swallowed. I'd never really had a mother figure. Renee was always the best friend, never the adult. She rarely offered me words of advice, and if she did, it was never insightful or wise.

"Your reaction will be all the confirmation he needs. He'll hold that in the forefront of his mind forever. Just remember that." She patted my hand once more and smiled weakly before stepping past me.

I stood in the center of the closet, the clothes draping over my arms, still on their hangers for I don't know how long. As my mind was replaying Esme's words, Edward stuck his head into the closet.

"Bella?" he asked quietly. "Are you okay?"

I turned quickly and swallowed, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You ready to go? We should head to the airport."

"Yeah, I'm ready. Should I change now, or bring a carryon?"

"Go ahead and change. It won't be a long trip," he said with a gentle smile.

I changed, grabbed my wallet and headed down the stairs. When I reached the last step and looked up, all of the air in my lungs rushed out.

God, he's stunning.

His lips pulled up in a grin and he held his hand out for me to take.

"Shall we?" he asked.

I took his hand, and nodded slowly as I swallowed. I repeated Esme's words in my mind, reminding me to be good and not too cranky. The run to the airport was quick, and we managed to catch our flight with thirty minutes to spare.

I'd performed many concerts and been in small areas with humans before, but I still didn't risk breathing once we entered the terminal. I glanced up at the sign and read the destination.

"Seattle?" I asked.

"What were you expecting?"

"I don't know. Paris maybe, or London, but not Seattle," I said honestly with what little air I had left.

"Well, I didn't know you were thinking so romantically," he teased.

I rolled my eyes and playfully slapped at his arm. He caught my wrist and kissed my fingertips before releasing me.

We boarded the plane, and within a few short hours, we had landed in Seattle. Just as the wheels touched the ground, the pilot announced the weather, date and time before thanking us for choosing their airline.

"Happy birthday," Edward whispered quietly into my ear. He kissed my lobe and my eyes fluttered closed.

When I regained my focus, I furrowed my brow at him, confused. He tapped his watch and smiled. I hadn't been paying attention to the time when it was announced. It was four minutes after midnight.

Once we were far enough away from the airport, I took a deep breath. I decided that just because I wasn't going to be cranky didn't mean I couldn't badger him with questions.

"So, where are we going that's fancy in Seattle?"

"Nope."

"Nope, what?"

"I'm not spoiling it."

I rolled my eyes and huffed.

We spent the early hours of the morning on a mountain top. We watched the sun rise and immediately hide behind the clouds. Later he took me into Seattle to visit the EMP Theater. I wasn't much of a sci-fi person, but the music portion of the theater was amazing. It was during our tour through the music history section that I realized how much music was responsible for tying Edward and I together again. If I hadn't met Garrett at a music store, or agreed to start a band with him, I probably would have wandered the earth lonely until I couldn't take it anymore.

I didn't like the feeling of being weak, however, and as I looked back at my old self compared to who I had become today, I realized that the old me was very weak. I was naïve, influential, and held very little responsibility in my life. I had always thought that I was grown up and mature, but I wasn't. I'm still not. I'll forever be eighteen.

Edward squeezed my hand and it pulled me from my thoughts. His fingers swept across my forehead and tucked my hair behind my ear as he stared into my eyes. "Are you alright?"

I nodded once and forced a smile before continuing the tour. I tried to not let my thoughts stray very far after that.

Once we left the theater, we headed to a well-covered park. Edward told me that he had checked with Alice before she left, and the day would be perfect weather for us to be out in public. We leaned against the tree, his arms wrapped around me as we talked about the theater, our music, and plans for the future.

He wanted to merge our bands and go on tour again. He mentioned writing new songs and playing like a full band with a drummer and everything. We laughed at different name ideas, but nothing seemed to fit. Every thirty minutes or so, he would squeeze me tightly and whisper that he loved me, and my heart would swell in my chest as I inhaled his scent.

As the sun began to set, Edward led me into the forest near the outskirts of town. He stopped just inside the tree line and smiled at me. I immediately knew what he wanted.

"No."

His face fell and he took my hands. "Please. Just this one last time. I promise."

"No."

"I wouldn't bother asking normally, but I want this to be a surprise."

"Edward, I'm not riding on your back. I have my own pair of super-vampire-feet now. You know I hated that when I was human."

"You only hated it because it made you sick. You liked me holding you."

"Oh really?" I teased, crossing my arms and quirking a brow.

He arched one brow as well and held a smirk across his lips, not saying a word.

"Fine," I mumbled before hopping onto his back.

His kissed my forearm that was around his neck gently before taking off running. I closed my eyes and tried to deny the smile that was threatening to spread across my lips.

Within ten minutes, he slowed down and let me slip from his back.

"Keep them closed," he whispered into my ear.

I tugged on my lip ring and nodded. I took a cautious breath but all I could smell was Edward and greenery. The wind blew gently and I could see the glow of the sun setting behind my lids. He held me still for a few more lingering moments before finally whispering in my ear to open my eyes.

The reflection off of the ivory white keys sparkled and lit up the center of the meadow which was covered in fallen autumn leaves. The stark black of the old piano in the ring of orange and red was magnificent, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was his old piano, and our meadow.

I tore my eyes away from the sight in front of me and stared into Edward's. "You," I mumbled, but I couldn't finish my thought.

He nodded and brought my fingertips to his lips, kissing them gently. "Happy birthday, my Bella."

He led me slowly toward the piano and lifted me at the waist, setting me on the black frame with ease and grace before taking his seat. The piano beneath me was just as I remembered from my human days spent at his old house. I glanced at the ivory keys and even the spot of my human blood was still dried on the side of the center C key.

His fingers began a slow and beautiful dance as he pressed each note carefully and created my lullaby.

I wanted to close my eyes as I listened to him play, but the scenery before me was too beautiful to shut out. I stared at him for a while before turning to watch the last few moments of the sunset. Just before the color left the sky, Edward opened his mouth.

"But you still have… all of me," he sang gently. His fingers lingered over the final notes and I smiled brightly, knowing I would be blushing if it were still possible.

I slid from the top of the piano onto his lap and kissed him softly. His lips pressed more firmly to mine as he wrapped his arms around my back and waist. We stayed like that for a long moment before pulling back to look into each other's eyes.

I had everything I wanted. How did I get so lucky?

He leaned back in and pressed his lips to my jaw. His breath on my neck made me shudder and inhale sharply. The faint touch of his fingers gliding over my spine sent a wave of pleasure through me and a gentle moan escaped my lips. We quickly became a tangle of limbs and a symphony of moans and sighs. The pleasure he brought me quickly escalated and I was whimpering his name as I shook. He peppered my skin with kisses, slowly working his way to my ear.

"I love you, Bella," he whispered quietly.

We lost track of time as we spent the night in each other's arms under the cloudy sky of where our life began. It was strange to think that not even two years ago we had lay in the same exact spot and worried about touching one another. Yet, there we were, doing more than just touching, and not a single thought of worry.

"I have another gift for you," Edward said softly. His chest vibrated as he spoke and I slid my hand up his torso, pressing gently on his sternum to sit up and look at him.

"I don't know if I can handle more gifts," I said with a smirk.

He chuckled and brushed my hair behind my ear. "Not that kind of gift. I'm actually not sure how you will respond to it, to be honest." He furrowed his brows as he stared into my eyes and seemed to search for something.

"Well, what is it?" I asked. His expression had me slightly concerned.

"I… well, I thought that we could visit Charlie while he slept. Give you a chance to say goodbye." His voice was so quiet I almost wasn't certain I had heard him properly, even with my acute senses. As his face deepened with wrinkles from concern and worry, I realized I had heard him perfectly fine.

"But… he can't know," I said, speaking my thoughts out loud as I tried to process what he was telling me.

"You'd have to keep your distance and be sure not to wake him, but I thought that you might want to see him one last time. We won't be allowed to come back to Forks after this."

"How did you get them to agree to this visit in the first place?" I asked.

"Sam agreed that a night visit would be alright for your birthday, but that after tonight we can't come back. He doesn't want to risk the gene mutating in any other generations. He actually helped me arrange this. He and a few of the pack brought the piano out here tonight for us."

I glanced back at the piano and stared at it curiously. The relationship with the pack had changed so quickly and so drastically over the week they stayed and fought by our side. As I got lost in thought, my focus shifted to Charlie and an ache in my chest made me shudder slightly. I nodded very slowly as I turned to look back down at Edward lying in the grass.

"I'd like to say goodbye," I whispered, swallowing afterward and taking a deep breath.

He took my hand and we stood to get dressed. Within seconds we were heading through the familiar forest of Forks toward my old house. I saw the porch light first, and I was immediately hit with a wave of sorrow. I missed Charlie. I never really got to know him that well, and I'm fairly certain I was a rotten daughter the last couple of years.

I wished I could apologize and tell him that I was sorry things turned out the way they did. I wanted to tell him to be happy with Sue Clearwater, and move on – not to worry about me. A part of me silently prayed that he would wake while I was there, but I knew that it wouldn't end well if he did. At best he would freak out and then we'd always have to worry about the Volturi finding him. At worst, he'd die of a heart attack. I knew somewhere inside of me that I had to let him go, and not disrupt his healing process, but that didn't dull the ache in my heart that wished for my father to be a part of my life.

We stopped at the tree line across the street from the old house, and I stared up at my window. I imagined the light on as I would wait for Edward to return from hunting to lay by my side as I slept. I pictured the snow falling as I sat in the window and watched the world pass me by. I remembered all the books I had read while sitting in the rocking chair.

This used to be my home.

"Did you want to go inside?" Edward asked quietly as he squeezed my hand.

I nodded once and followed him toward the house. He leapt up into the tree effortlessly and pulled at the window pane. It creaked open and he climbed inside, pausing on the other side to offer me his hand. I smiled at his chivalry and took it as I climbed through my old window.

I looked around and was utterly amazed. Charlie hadn't touched or moved a single thing. My blanket was still tossed back gently and my homework was scattered across my desk. It felt as though I had stepped back into that fateful day.

I ran my fingers along the bed as we walked toward the door. Edward gently pulled it open for me and waited for me to step into the hallway. I listened for Charlie and recognized his snoring downstairs on the couch. I glanced at Edward before pulling the familiarity of his mind into primary shield.

Why is he asleep here tonight? I asked. Doesn't he usually stay at Sue Clearwater's?

'Sam mentioned that Charlie has been really distant since they got back. He thinks it might have to do with your birthday and missing you, but he wasn't sure,' Edward thought.

I sighed heavily and my chest tightened. I recognized the constriction of my throat and pressure behind my eyes, and immediately tried to calm myself. I knew I couldn't cry like human, but the dry sobs could still wake Charlie.

Edward ran his hand over my shoulder and nodded toward the stairs. I took another deep breath, but this time I noticed Charlie's scent. I immediately held my breath, not wanting to take any chances of accidently hurting him.

Once we were downstairs, I crouched at the end of the couch where Charlie was curled up. His head was resting on the arm rest and he looked cold and tired. Edward heard my concerns and handed me a blanket from the recliner. I carefully laid it over him, making sure I didn't disturb him, and watched my father sleep. He wasn't dreaming that I could tell, and his breathing was heavy and natural. I hoped that he didn't have nightmares, but I knew that he probably did. When Edward left, I always had nightmares, and I was sure that it would be the same for Charlie.

As I knelt by his head and watched him sleep, I thought of all the things I never thanked him for. I became overwhelmed with guilt and slowly started to hate myself for how I had treated him.

'He loves you, Bella. Teenagers never express their gratitude for every small thing, and you shouldn't feel guilty for how things turned out. You didn't ask for this,' Edward thought.

I shut my eyes and shook my head. I still should have told him that I appreciated him more. That I loved him.

'Charlie was never an emotional kind of guy. He knew you loved him and appreciated him. He knew it every time you did something for him or talked to him.'

I still should have—

'You had no choice in how things turned out. You couldn't do anything. No child ever expects to be gone before their parents. You had no way of knowing. Don't beat yourself up over this, please. I wanted for you to have some closure, not find more reason to be angry with yourself.'

I sighed and nodded as I opened my eyes. I'm sorry. I leaned in closer to Charlie and slowly inhaled his scent. I wanted to remember it forever. He smelled like pine and orange with an undertone of oil and leather. A quiet sob escaped my lips and I stilled as I tried to regain my composure. I didn't want to say goodbye. Not now, not ever.

'You have to, Bella. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.'

I knew he was right. Charlie could never know – it would put his life in danger. He deserved a steady, normal life, and I hoped that Sue would bring him some sort of happiness. Somewhere in the back of my mind I realized that this is how Edward felt when he left me. Edward looked away and grimaced slightly at my thought. I understand now, I thought. But that doesn't mean it hurt any less.

'I know. I felt that I had no choice when I left. I never gave us enough credit to realize that we were fated for one another. You seem to have a natural ability to adapt to this lifestyle. Charlie is different. He belongs in the human world where everything makes sense to him. He'll be happy again someday soon, I'm sure.' Edward was looking down at Charlie as he thought, and there was gentleness to his eyes.

I stood slowly, careful to not make any noise or move too quickly, and gazed down at my father. He tugged the blanket around his shoulders tighter and exhaled deeply, mumbling something incoherent.

I kissed the top of his head as gently as I could manage, only barely grazing his hair and lingering for a second. Edward rubbed my knuckles softly before smiling at me. 'Ready to leave?' he asked mentally. I nodded and followed him upstairs and out the window.

Once we were in the forest across the street, Edward paused. "We have a few hours before our plane leaves. Did you want to go anywhere else? Perhaps back to the meadow, or my old house?"

I shook my head. My heart was already tugging me back into the house to be with Charlie. I needed to leave before I broke down and ran in to apologize to him.

"Let's go home," I said quietly, and he nodded in understanding.

./.

As the days went on, our family slowly came back together. Alice and Jasper returned first, followed by Garrett and Kate the next week. Garrett had been rather distant, but I figured it was because he was so wrapped up with Kate. I tried to not let it bother me, but it didn't go completely unnoticed.

Tanya was doing better, but she was still bitter. She returned home shortly after Kate and Garrett did, but she didn't spend much time there. I wished there was something I could do to make it easier for her, but I knew they we all grieved in our own way. Bree had been on my mind a lot, and as much as I missed her, I wondered how hard this life would have been for her if things hadn't turned out the way they did.

One night while Edward and I were watching a movie with Esme, Garrett and Kate came back from a hunt. Esme asked them to join us but they declined.

"Actually, can I have a moment of your time, Little-Bit?" Garrett asked cautiously.

Edward glanced at me awkwardly before I nodded and stood to follow Garrett out of the room. Kate disappeared out the front door a moment later as Garrett led me to the back of the house.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I wanted to talk to you." His voice was strained and something seemed off. I immediately began to worry.

He stopped once we entered the music studio in the basement and he sat down on the piano bench. He stared at the ground as he took a deep breath, then tilted his head up and met my gaze.

"I'm sorry, Little-Bit, but… I am leaving Beautifully Sacred." He stared intensely into my eyes, shifting back and forth as if he was searching for something. As the seconds passed, his forehead began to wrinkle with concern.

"Why?" I asked after a moment of shocked silence.

He sighed heavily and looked back down. "Because I want to ask Kate to marry me. I want to settle down. I'm tired of living the nomad life. I've done it for far too long, and I'm ready for something stable. It's nothing against you, or Edward, or the rest of his family, I just… I really like her, you know? And I want—"

"I understand – it's okay," I said, cutting him off. I walked over to him and sat down on the bench beside him. He slid over to give me some room, and we were sitting shoulder to shoulder. I took a moment to organize my thoughts. I was hurt, but I understood.

I leaned over, lying my head on his shoulder, and smiled up at him. His lips twitched and the corner of his eyes wrinkled slightly. He looked like a pile of mixed emotions. "Tell me what you're thinking," I said, looking into his eyes.

"I'm thinking that I don't want to hurt you. I don't want you to think I'm leaving you high and dry, or replacing you. That's not the truth at all. No one can ever take the place in my life and in my heart that you have. I never knew or even imagined that love could take so many different forms and levels of intensity. I love you, Little-Bit, and I'm happy you are finally happy. It wasn't the longest road I've been down, but it was definitely the most adventurous. I've been playing music and going from city to city for so long now, I don't feel like I have a place to call home. I want that. I want that more than I can even express, and I never fathomed that I would feel that way. I figured I had explored the world; obviously there was nothing more for me. I was content, but now… now I'm… I don't even know how to explain it."

I smiled wider and brought my hand to the yellow tear drop necklace he had given me before our very first show. "You feel complete. It's a complex feeling, overwhelming at times, and you feel the need to test it – to make sure it's really there. It's like it's real, but not tangible." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting my fingers slip from the necklace to my lap. "I'm always afraid it's going to be taken away."

Garrett wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed me into his side. I exhaled slowly and glanced back up at him. "Are you happy?"

He smirked slightly before nodding once. "I think so," he said, staring into my eyes. "Are you?"

I chuckled once, shrugging my shoulders and nodded. "Yeah, I am."

He kissed the top of my head and I felt his lips pull into a smile.

"So, what do we do now?" I asked.

"I get the courage to propose to Kate, and you… you do whatever you want to do with your life. Whatever makes you happy. I'll sign over all of the rights to the songs, and you can continue touring if you want, or make a new CD."

"Where are you going to live?" I asked, my heart sinking at the prospect of it being far away.

"Not sure yet. We liked Iceland, but Kate is concerned about Tanya, and she will probably want to stay nearby. I don't mind Alaska or Canada, and the idea of being close to you isn't terrible, either," he said with a smirk and a nudge.

I smiled and hid my face with my hair. "Will you still come to the shows if they are close by?"

"Of course. I wouldn't dream of missing it."

I nodded and exhaled slowly, feeling much better that he wasn't leaving me entirely. "I love you too, mister," I said, elbowing him gently in the ribs and smirking.

He laughed and his whole face lit up while the corner of his eyes wrinkled. "Good to know."

We walked back upstairs and joined Edward and Esme in the living room. They were still watching Princess Bride, and it was the scene where they torture Westley.

"I never understood what he was hopping to gain with that machine. Sucking the life from someone doesn't give the soul to him, it just destroys the person," Garrett said from beside me.

I slid onto the couch beside Edward and curled into his chest. He frowned at me for a second before kissing my temple and holding me close.

"He wants what every man wants: power," Jasper said as he walked into the room with Alice at his side.

"How does he get power from that, though?"

"By making others weaker, you become more powerful by default." Jasper sat in the recliner while Alice draped her legs across him and sat on the armrest.

"I suppose you're right. I'd never looked at it that way." Garrett glanced down at me in Edward's arms and smiled. "I'll see you later, Little-Bit. Have a goodnight, everyone."

"Night," I said softly with a faint smile.

The front door closed silently behind him and Edward immediately looked down at me. "Are you okay with this? Honestly?" he asked quietly. I knew he had heard the conversation via Garrett's thoughts.

"Okay with what?" Jasper asked, looking curiously from me to Edward.

"Garrett is no longer going to tour with me. He's left Beautifully Sacred," I explained.

Esme's face fell as a quiet "Oh" escaped her lips.

"I'm fine with it. I understand his reasons, and support him. I just don't know what to do now. We were going to tour for our CD, but it doesn't feel right to play the songs without him." I fidgeted on the sofa, tucking my feet beneath me.

"Well, it's obvious, isn't it?" Alice asked with a grin.

We all turned to look at her, partly confused, and partly waiting for her to elaborate as we all knew she would.

"We form a new band, write new songs, and tour together!"

My lips lifted slightly and I looked up at Edward. We had talked about something similar on the night of my birthday while in the meadow. "And I'm guessing you already have a name in mind?" I asked.

"Of course! Beautiful Disease," she said with confidence.

Jasper grinned and stared into the eyes of his small, bouncing wife on his lap. "I like it."

"Me too," I said, glancing up at Edward.

"Beautiful Disease it is, then," he said softly with a smile.

Alice hopped off the arm rest and pulled her phone out in a second. "I'll call Maurice to let him know the new plans." She barely finished speaking before the number was dialed and she was walking toward the dining room.

As I curled into Edward's side, I couldn't help the giant smile as it spread across my face. I was happy. Genuinely happy. I was excited for Garrett and Kate, and hoped that they had a happy life together, but as I glanced around the room, I realized that I had a lot to be thankful for, too. As much as I missed Charlie, and even Renee, I felt like I had a home where I fit in. I was finally comfortable in my own skin and with who I had become. I'd be forever stuck as a teenager, but I was excited about the endless possibilities this new life would provide me.

Jasper eyed me suspiciously and I looked down at my lap, letting my hair fall in my face. He knew, and there was no hiding it from him, but the human part of me buried deep inside still felt embarrassed for some strange reason. I was determined to not let go of my human nature. I would make sure that I kept my quirks, fidgeting, and old habits. Who's to say I can't have both worlds?

Edward linked his fingers with mine and squeezed, resting our wrists on my thigh. As I glanced up into his eyes I felt a sense of peace course through me. I'd thought that I had lost this chance forever when he left, and again when I was changed, but it wasn't until now that I realized forever is relative.

It's how the time is spent that matters, not how long you have.

And you know something? Westley had it right.

Death could not stop true love. All it could do was delay it for a while.

A/N: I still have the epilogue for Beautifully Sacred to write and post, but I know some people don't like epilogues. If you don't plan on reading it, just know that the links for the music discography download for the entire story as well as a pdf version, and art work made by me will be posted on the epilogue A/N, as well as on my profile page and tumblr. Check back to get those links once the epilogue posts, if you're interested.

Credit for the "He wants what every man wants: power," line goes to Ocdmess. Thanks for letting me use it. I told you I had a plan.

Also, credit for the last line goes to William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride.

Questions? Poke me on twitter: Ailisraevyn or formspring: Ailisraevynx

Is there going to be a sequel? - I am still undecided. Yes, I have a major idea that could work, but I don't have the time to plan and map it out like I do for all of my stories. I will point out that there are a few subtle foreshadowing pieces (all mentioned in the last portion of this chapter) that would lead to my idea for the sequel however, so it is a possibility.

Special thanks to Ocdmess for pre-reading, being an amazing inspiration, and motivator. She's my rock and my foundation. A huge thank you to my beta, blahblahblah, for her patience and vast knowledge in all things smart-related. Also, the girls (and guy) on twitter who poked me to keep me going and became amazing friends.

Thank you for reading, skimming, reviewing, glancing, listening, and imagining. Your time spent and comments shared mean more than I can ever express. I will do my best to respond to every one of you.

Song question for the chapter: What one song do you feel is "YOU"? Something that means a lot to you, holds a specific memory or fondness that reminds you of who you are, or what you love? Maybe someone else told you they think of you when they hear it, or maybe it's your theme song when you need a reminder of how awesome you are.