A/N: Hey all! This is it…the last chapter. I'll catch y'all at the bottom.

Beta'd by Cherry! :*

Epilogue: God Blessed the Broken Road

EPOV

Ten Years Later

"Riley, honey, chew with your mouth closed," Bella scolds. He responds with a mumbled, 'sorry'. "And don't talk with food in your mouth, either," Bella adds. Riley nods and continues to eat his dinner.

Riley is our five-year-old son, and our only biological child. Bella's body was so damaged from Sam that Riley is a Godsend. He may have been born seven weeks premature, but he's a fighter. With all the complications during the pregnancy and delivery, the doctor advised us that it would be too risky for Bella to have more. A year and a half later, we adopted a little girl. Victoria, our red-headed Shirley Temple, just turned four last week. Her mother was only fifteen and could not support a child, so she chose to give her the best chance at life with a family who could. We're in the process of adopting another—a boy this time—who is now almost three.

"Daddy, can we have ice cream?" Riley asks. I look to Bella, holding a silent conversation with her. She shrugs a shoulder and gives a slight nod.

"If you both finish what's left on your plates, then yes," I tell our son. We finish our dinner quickly, thanks to two overeager kids wanting dessert. With small bowls of chocolate ice cream in hand they follow us outside, where we enjoy the summer evening weather. Of course, they get distracted by the play set and ladybugs and don't end up finishing.

As I sit here next to my beautiful wife, watching our two kids play, memories of how we came to be come to the forefront of my mind…

In the months following Bella reuniting with Charlie…

When I left Forks that morning, I was on edge. I didn't want to leave Bella and I didn't want to face months of police questions, line-ups, pictures of my father or the memories that came with them. I knew I had to, for more than just justice and closure. I had another reason now and she was trying to start her own path to finding herself again. The drive back to Seattle was quiet, but the radio helped get my mind off things temporarily.

My first stop was the police station where I was told to meet the detective who'd be the new lead on the case, Peter Finch. From there, he set me up with a precautionary security detail and a place to stay at a hotel. I told him I didn't have the funds to pay for an extended stay in a hotel, but he assured me that it would be paid for by the station. It turned out that the men chasing us worked for big-time loan shark Aro Volturi, who had a reputation of harassing the family members of those indebted to him once the person was dead. Word was that if he couldn't get it from the one who'd done him wrong, he went after the relatives without the wrong-doer's interference. The problem was getting his "employees" to turn on him. That's why I was so important; I saw Felix Volturi, right-hand man and Aro's eldest son, personally kill someone and then leave with his father.

"How much freedom do I have?"

Peter sighed. "Unfortunately, not a whole lot at the moment. If you have a cell phone, I need you to know you can't use it. I have an untraceable phone you can use, and I will personally bring the other witness one as well. Your situations are difficult, in that it seems like she needs you. You're not supposed to have any contact for legal reasons pertaining to this case. I will allow supervised phone calls between you two, but not a single word about what you're supposed to say when trial time comes. If we want this case to end in a conviction, it's imperative that we don't have any mistakes." He gave me a pointed look to get his message across. I nodded in understanding.

"Good," he said. "Now, about the other restrictions…"

By the time he finished going over the rules and all that, I wanted a stiff drink. He allowed me to call Bella from his desk phone and explain that things were going to be less than ideal, and to expect Peter in the next couple days. He'd send his credentials to the Forks PD, even though Buddy could vouch for him. She sounded sad and hoped it wouldn't last too long. Peter understood our worries and didn't want to sound negative but told us that speed was never certain in those kinds of cases.

Thankfully, Emmett and Rosalie weren't a huge part of the case, and only needed to testify about the one and only night they saw Bella and me. Once that statement was in, they were free to leave and go about their lives with the confidentiality reminder.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Bella and I grew closer during our time on the phone. She started working full time at the Forks Public Library and with the support of Charlie, Alice, and me, she started seeing a therapist shortly after going back to Forks. Some sessions she went alone, others her dad was with her. I wanted to join her, and her therapist thought it would be beneficial, but under the circumstances, we all knew I couldn't. That changed, though, about seven months after I went back to Seattle.

The trial began and after eight weeks of sitting in that courtroom for two different, yet similar cases, it was finally over. Bella and I were able to see each other again, albeit in a professional manner. She wrote me a short note that said she was going to be here every day she could. She wanted to support me in the only way possible while things continued. We silently supported each other from our seats, giving encouraging nods and smiles when eye contact was made.

In the end, everyone involved, including Alice and Charlie, was present the day the jury read its decision. Demitri and Alec were found guilty on hacking, accessories in a murder, attempted kidnapping, conspiring to commit murder, assault, and disposing of evidence. Both Felix and Aro were found guilty of first degree murder. Sure, they had other, minor charges that would add months on to their sentences, but that didn't matter to me. I got what I wanted: justice for my father.

Bella gave me the biggest, longest hug that day, murmuring her congratulations and joy over the ruling against my cheek.

Sentencing came, but I didn't care to go, as it wasn't mandatory. Peter and Buddy went in my place. I had a far more important thing to do at that time: I was going to my second therapy session with Bella.

During the time leading up to the Volturi trial, an investigation into Sam's death and his abusing Bella had opened and closed. Most of his friends and employees at the auto shop either didn't know or were tight lipped. Because Sam was a resident and member of the Quileute's, they had their own laws and justice system. They were able to work together and, although only two years in prison were served, three other Quileute's were charged as accessories to assault and battery, and obstructing justice. One of the three, Jake, had made a deal and only served one year. All were given an additional year of probation upon release, as well as whatever the tribe dished out.

Three Years After the Shooting…

I waited for as long as I could after Sam's death, the trial, and finding a job to tell her how I felt and to ask her to be my girlfriend. I needed it to be her choice and not because I had been there at her worst. It was important to her, and me, that she find herself again without jumping into a romantic relationship. Thanks to her therapy sessions, she'd grown happier—lighter almost. I was happy she was getting back to her old self, as stated by both Charlie and Alice, and I was finally doing work that fit with my degree. I was hired as an assistant advisor to the architect of a local company. It wasn't where I wanted to be in the end, but it was the first step in getting there.

Emmett had stopped by for lunch and, after telling him what I wanted to do, had been weary, saying that I needed to wait a little longer.

"Dude, don't get me wrong. I like her, or at least I think I do. I've only seen her a couple times since that first night, not including the trial. Relationships that start out from intense life or death situations don't usually last."

"Really, man? Show me proof, or did you just take that from the movie Speed?"

He put his hands up in surrender. "Hey, you never know. Jack might have been right."

"You're a dick, you know that? I'm nervous enough as it is and you're putting shit in my head." I shook my head in disapproval. I loved Emmett, but regardless of his smarts as a doctor, he could be an idiot.

He went on to say sorry and that maybe I should wait another month or so. I told him I'd already been waiting and telling myself it was too soon. It was becoming more difficult to hide my feelings from her when I saw her.

A few days after my conversation with Emmett, Bella informed me that her work at the library had lead to a management promotion. I decided to take her out for a celebratory dinner, with the okay from Charlie. I had called to make sure he hadn't made plans with her and told him my intentions, praying he'd accept the idea of us dating. I know, old school, but considering everything she'd been through, I felt it was appropriate. I was nervous as hell, thinking he'd side with Emmett or tell me to fuck off, but he surprised me by saying that he'd wondered when I was going to get off my ass and do something. Suffice to say, I left work earlier that day, so I could be there when she came home.

Ten Months Later

"Sometime a heartbreak shakes you awake and helps you see that you are worth more that what you were settling for. I never thought I'd meet someone who would show so much compassion for me when I was at rock bottom. I never thought I'd be able to trust again. I never thought I'd miss someone, especially a man, I'd just met. And I certainly never thought I'd feel what real love is from that man. Edward, you saved me from a brokenness where I feared I'd never come out of. Just like our song says, 'God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you.' I love you, so much." Bella said through stuttering and happy tears.

I took a deep breath and began:

"The day we met was not the way we should have started. I've watched you grow into the person you are now – a strong, loving, caring, compassionate, and driven – from what life handed you up to that day. I can't promise the dark clouds of our memories will never hover in our lives, or that the future will be filled with rainbows. I can't promise perfection or easiness in life. But I can promise that I'll always be here for you, do my best to make you happy, and make you feel loved in every way I can. I will always cheer you on, encourage you, pray, dream, and build with you. You're my everything, Bella. I love you."

As Bella and I slipped on the bands that finally bound us in marriage, the pastor went on to ask us both, "Do you take each other to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part? Edward?"

With a big ass smile on my face, I said, "Absolutely!" Chuckles were heard from the guests, which was just family and closest friends, and from the love of my life.

"Bella?"

"Yes, I do!"

"Then, given by the State of Washington and in the eyes of God, it is my pleasure and honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Pulling Bella into a dip, I did as the good man said, and kissed her.

"Hey," I hear from next to me. I turn my head, meeting soulful brown eyes. "What's got you smiling like that?"

Her face, while showing curiosity, is lit up with a smile, brown eyes shinning with love, and wisps of her wavy hair blowing in the gentle, summer evening breeze. She's breath-taking in her natural beauty, just like she was on our wedding day, six months after our engagement.

"I'm just … happy," I say with a one-shoulder shrug. I don't know how else to put it.

Bella smiles wider. "Yeah?" I nod. "Me, too." She leans over to kiss me. Her soft lips press into mine and my hands come up to frame her face, holding her there a few seconds longer. When she pulls away, she adjusts herself and rests her head on my shoulder. I move my arm and slip it around her, holding her closer to me.

No matter how we met or how we started, our lives were forever changed the day we had to run, pray, and fight to survive.

And we got out alive.

***The End***

A/N: And there you have it! (Cherry did not beta the wedding portion) I have not marked this complete yet, just because the wifey is working on the previous chapter. As soon as I get that one back, I'll switch them out, and then mark it. I will download a few versions and post the files in my FB group...just in case.

I finished this the day after chapter 8 went up, but I needed to rest my eyes and check back with fresh ones before posting. That and I needed to re-read all the chapters posted to make sure I didn't screw up details as I finished writing this ending. And then I decided to add the wedding part in after, lol. This is the first story I ever wrote and started posting when I wasn't sure how to proceed in several areas. I was just so excited to have written something and I wanted to share it. It was a rookie move. It's been a long, hard road for these two and for myself in finishing it, but I did it nonetheless.

Side note: I know guilty by association is thing, but I don't know legal terms and all that, so I used accessory; it's been 10 years since I was in school for my criminal justice degree and I haven't kept up with anything from it, lol.