Sorry for the delay! Real life has been a B*itch!

Hope you enjoy this one, as it wraps up the story.

Previously:

Later that night, just before dawn, Angela Cheney, 109-year-old graduate of Forks HS, class of 2006, passed on, the first rays of the rising sun passing through the glass window and illuminating her peaceful, small smile, that had been on her face all night.

And In a hotel thirty miles away, after receiving a brief text from Alice, a quietly crying Isabella Cullen, 109 year old graduate of Forks HS class of 2006, glittered as the first rays of the rising sun splashed across her skin as she huddled into her Edward, sitting on their private rooftop balcony.

While Edward gently rocked her, Bella watched the sun slowly rising over the mountains to the East, the sky changing from purple to pink to blue, bright rays shining brightly on the slowly waking world below.

It was a particularly beautiful sunrise, Bella thought. And she decided a sunrise was a perfect backdrop for Angela to pass by; she was always bringing light to people's lives.

Much better than a sunset.

Epilogue: Part 3 - Finale

Five days later, Bella stood outside the old, white church on Main Street, in Forks Washington, where the mourners for Angela's funeral were gathering to lay her to rest. The crowd was sizeable, as Angela still had a very large family, and she had touched the lives of many people who wanted to pay their respects.

As her eyes looked at the building that had withstood the decades in good shape, Bella realized she had not been back to this Church since Angela's wedding, all those many long years ago. She would have been her for her father's service three decades ago, but Alice warned her that there would be Forks residents there that would remember her, so she could not attend.

That was no longer the case, Alice assured. It had been over eighty years since Isabella Cullen had 'died', and Alice was 100% certain her that no one in town would know who she was. Angela had outlived most of their old, mutual friends, and the few that remained were mostly old and sick and would not be attending. In fact, only two of their old 'table circle' was still alive - Tyler Crowley, at one hundred ten years of age, living in a retirement community in Los Angelas, and June Richardson, who lived in New York and would not be attending the funeral.

As Bella and Edward walked up the steps of the Church - the rest of the family would visit the cemetery but would avoid the Church service, as they would be too noticeable if they all showed up together - she looked up and down Main Street, cataloging all the changes that had taken place since Angela's wedding. Yes, she'd been back to Forks many times after that to see her father or the Quileute's, but she never spent any time in town, needing to stay hidden.

The town had grown, certainly, with Main Street stretching over two miles long now. Town Hall and the police station had been completely rebuilt, and were modern, spacious buildings, though there were still many abandoned storefronts, left empty since the Great Recession which swept most of the world during the early 2070's. Forks' peak population - of about eighteen thousand people in the mid 2060's - had fallen back to a little over half that, and the town still had a bit of that sleepy, 'off the beaten path' feel to it.

The Church, however, was unchanged, save for a fresh coat of white paint. Bella was glad for that, as it was a beautiful building with Victorian-style architecture, and held fond memories for her; of watching Angela in the bloom of youth, marrying her Ben, in front of all her friends and family.

As Bella and Edward took their seats in the back row, she clutched her husband's hand as the pews filled. People spoke in soft voices, their black clothing somber and fitting for the occasion, as they settled down in the crowded space. The service might end up being standing-room only, and Bella was happy that so many people had come to see Angela laid to rest.

As the service began, Bella's eyes stung with venom tears that would never fall, as she was lulled by the almost hypnotic voice of the Priest. He spoke of cycles of life and death and rebirth, and tried to soothe with comforting words.

With each prayer offered, Bella would say a quiet 'amen', her voice just one of many; and when the traditional hymns were sung, Bella sang along quietly, wishing her friend safe travels on wherever her journey would take her next.

Perhaps a dozen people spoke in eulogy, eliciting tears and prayers and soft laughter from all the people who came to honor Angela: loving Mother and doting Grandmother, trusted Aunt and loyal friend: she was all of that and more to the assembled mourners.

As the service wound down, the last speaker - her daughter Audrey - walked up to the small lectern, helped by a young woman Bella recognized as Angela's great granddaughter. Audrey's face was tear streaked and her makeup smudged, and some of her graying hair had escaped from the tight bun atop her head. Everyone could see the strain she was under; an only child, she had been close with her Mother, and by all accounts was devastated by her passing, despite having known it was coming.

Audrey's voice was a bit shaky at first, but then firmed up as she shared treasured memories of Angela with the assembly, eliciting both sniffles and chuckles. She also thanked many people for enriching Angela's life, and from the hiccups and soft cries from different pews Bella realized many were in attendance tonight.

After perhaps ten minutes or so of speaking, Audrey paused to take a drink of water and wipe her eyes before again addressing the mourners. "There is one last person I want to thank today, and it's fitting, I think, that I saved her for last."

With her superior vision, Bella could see Audrey's lips trembling, and she squeezed Edward's hand tighter as she anticipated what Audrey might say next.

"My Mother was blessed with a very special friend...a once-in-a-lifetime friend, really, the kind of friend that all of us should be lucky enough to have. This person has been there for my Mom, in good times and in bad, all the way back to when I was just a little girl, and up until today."

Bella was trembling in her seat, her shoulders quivering as she fought to contain herself. Edward wrapped his arm around her, pulling her tightly against him on the pew bench, her gauzy mourning veil bunching up against his shoulder when she buried her face there.

Audrey wiped her eyes again. "Her name is Marie; and to this day, I cannot think of anyone - save perhaps my Father - that could put a bigger smile on my Mother's face."

For a moment Audrey looked lost in thought as her lips turned up in a small smile. "Growing up, there were times when I'd sometimes see my mom practically dancing around the house, her smile wide and her mood infectious, after speaking to her friend on the phone or visiting with her. And as you all know, my Mom was very reserved and quiet, so this was very unusual behavior."

There were a few quiet murmurs of assent from the crowd as Audrey paused. "The first time I noticed it think I was maybe seven or eight; my mother had just gone to see her friend in Seattle and was as happy as I think I'd ever seen her, she just seemed so filled with life, so jubilant. And as I grew older, and things got tough or my parents went through a rough patch or two, my Mother would go outside for a few minutes and make a phone call or go meet Marie for lunch, and would soon be okay again, happy and serene."

Audrey paused a moment, and then gave a small smile. "I longed to meet this woman, who was such a great friend to my mom, but I was told she was very private and I respected that. I was just thankful my Mom had a friend like her. And my Dad was thankful too, as he often half-joked that Marie's calming influence on my Mom probably saved them a fortune in marriage counseling."

Many people chuckled at Audrey's quip, and Bella with them. Meanwhile, Edward scanned the thoughts around him; as expected, many people were wondering if Marie was amongst them. Thankfully, though her veil partially concealed her face anyway, no one would ever mistake Bella's petite, perfect figure and youthful face for that of the hundred-something woman that they expected Marie to be.

Audrey's earlier tears had stopped, and she spoke with more life in her voice. "As I got older and I developed my own identity - maybe seventeen or eighteen or so - my mother would sometimes sit me down and ask me provocative questions, or engage me about things we'd never talked about before. This became something of a routine for us during my last few months of high school, and I learned from her later that Marie had been the source of much of this introspection - that their get-togethers and conversations gave my Mother a wider perspective of things: about the oldest questions, about philosophy, about life."

Another tear dripped down Audrey's face, but this time it was a happy tear, as she was smiling. "Some of my happiest memories of my Mom, that I still cherish, were the times we would go outside on clear nights, and I would sit with her on our deck while she sipped a glass of wine and looked up at the sky, talking with me about spirituality and faith and possibilities."

Audrey's eyes were far away from the gathered mourners as she remembered, her voice full of emotion when she began again. "During those times, I felt connected with my Mom as an adult, maybe the first time I had felt that kind of connection with her."

Taking a deep breath, she continued. "When I came home one summer from university, my mom went through some rough times when her parents - my Grandparents - died, within a week of each other. I tried to be there for her, but didn't think I was breaking through, and I was really just starting my own life." Audrey's lips quirked. "But then Marie came and took my mom on a short trip, and when she came home, she seemed at peace, like everything in the world was going to be okay. And though I think maybe I was a little jealous of Marie's relationship at the time, I soon remembered thinking that one day I hoped to have a friend that could be to me like Marie was to my Mom."

"That trip they took started a tradition, that I later called 'Mom and Marie's Fantasy Fun Trips." Audrey paused, her smile morphing into a smirk. "I have to confess I itched to join them...I mean, while everyone knows I adored my father, I'd be the first to admit that he was a bit of a sci-fi nerd, and his idea of a 'adventure trip' was a far cry from what my Mom and Marie got up to. So, I'm very thankful that Marie made sure my mom had some excitement in her full and hectic life!"

More people chuckled at Audrey's words, and the very few who were still alive that had been friends with Ben and Angela remembered them fondly, thinking of happy times.

Edward squeezed Bella's hand with pride as she burrowed her face into his shoulder. He knew, even after all these decades, she'd be blushing if she could. And he also knew, better than anyone else, what having Bella as part of your life actually meant, and how lucky those who really got to know her actually were.

He was pleased that Angela's daughter paid tribute to her this way, and his only regret was that Audrey never got to meet Bella and get to know her.

Audrey, up on the lectern, was smiling now, happy that her friends and family were remembering her Mom with something other than tears. She took a deep breath, ready to wrap her eulogy up: her lips turned up and her eyes bright. "I'd like to finish by saying...Marie, I want to wholeheartedly extend my thanks and love to you. Wherever you are, whoever you are...thank you for being there for my Mom for all these years. Thank you for caring for her, loving her, making her smile and helping her to shine. I cherish the fact that you loved her as you did, and I know you were the gold standard that my mother measured all friendships by."

As Audrey moved to retake her seat with her family, Bella sniffed quietly, resting her head on Edward's shoulder, her mind far away and thinking of her friend.

A short time later, at the nearby Forks Cemetery where Angela would be laid to rest next to Ben and her own parents, the eight Cullen's and Jacob arrived early and walked to Charlie's grave, paying their respects to him while still able to watch Angela's burial from a distance.

Bella took a moment, lay some flowers on his grave, and said a short prayer for her Father. When she finished, she took a moment to look at her own gravestone, directly next to her fathers. It felt a bit surreal whenever she saw it, but she'd been here before and it no longer gave her chills.

She wished her Mom could be buried here as well; unfortunately, when she passed, Phil had chosen to have her cremated in Florida.

The group of nine silently watched the brief graveside service as Angela's coffin was lowered into the earth. When the last prayer finished and the mourners picked up shovels to throw dirt into the grave, Bella cried into Edward's side, his strong arms holding her steady. It had been a long time - nearly thirty years when her father died - since Bella had lost anyone close to her, and she thought she felt a thump in her heart as each shovelful of dirt was tossed in.

The foreknowledge that these kind of moments were part and parcel of the life she'd chosen didn't make the reality of it any easier.

The crowds began to disperse a short time later, walking to their cars under the mist and light rain. Audrey stayed until the very last mourner left, standing vigil by her mother's grave. She had already sent her husband and children to a waiting limousine, as she wanted a moment alone to say a final goodbye.

When she watched her husband close the door of the limo to give her privacy, Audrey turned her face up towards the beautiful, white marble headstone that marked her Mother's final resting place. It stood above every other monument in the cemetery, gleaming proudly even in the gloom.

The headstone had come as a complete surprise to Audrey; a few days ago, when she had gone to the funeral home to make burial arrangements, the funeral home director gave her a small sealed envelope addressed to her in elegant script. Upon opening it, she read:

'Audrey - please accept a final gift, which expresses my love for my oldest friend. I hope I haven't offended you and would be honored if you chose to use it. Love, Marie'

And when Audrey asked the director to show her the headstone and saw it's majesty and read the moving inscription, she felt it was perfect for her Mom.

This had been the second gift she'd received from Marie since her Mother died. The first had arrived the day after her Mom had passed, peacefully in the night.

When Audrey was a young girl, she would get a birthday card and a present every year from Marie. Usually, the cards were funny and the gifts were small but thoughtful; tickets for a concert, a wonderful book she'd never have picked herself, or a tasteful, trendy scarf.

But she'd not gotten anything from Marie in decades.

So Audrey was curious as she opened the package that had arrived for her, pulling her momentarily from her grief. Inside, there was a note addressed to her, and a decent sized white box that contained one of those new and expensive holographic video players that her husband wanted to get but was waiting until the price dropped.

Taped onto the box, a small hand-written note said the unit was already pre-loaded with 'home movies' that she might enjoy.

Curiosity mounting, she had sat down on her couch after plugging the unit in, wondering what Marie had actually sent her, what she was going to see.

And to Audrey's delight, the videos showed her a side of her mother that she'd not seen in decades; of an adventurous, carefree woman enjoying her life with her special friend.

So, over the next few days, while Audrey spent the daylight hours planning funeral arrangements, her nights were devoted to enjoying Marie's gift.

The videos were a treasure trove of memories - arranged chronologically - of perhaps every trip her Mom had taken with Marie, spanning a gulf of at least forty years. The earliest videos showed a still young Angela - perhaps in her late thirties or early forties - filled with zest and verve, while the last videos showed a more somber Angela, after Ben had died, probably in her late eighties or early nineties. This version of her Mom, while obviously a step slower and a bit less vibrant, still was able to relax and let her mask drop on these trips, and Audrey was so thankful that her Mom had this outlet for herself.

The videos were priceless; Audrey had laughed and clapped as her mother twirled in circles on the nighttime streets of Barcelona to flamenco music, a colorful dress swirling around her hips; another video caused her to gape while watching as her mother parachuted from an airplane, screaming and laughing 'MAAARRRRRIIIIIEEEE' the whole way down while the photographer - obviously Marie - crowed delightedly, her laughter sounding like the chimes of a bell, the video swaying from side to side as the parachuting Marie tried to keep the picture steady on her mom; in another, Audrey chuckled as her Mom jumped and laughed while she fought a giant Alaskan salmon on a fishing line, wearing waist-high rubber boots as she stood with a long fishing pole in a wild river; and Audrey cried as another clip showed her mother as she lit a candle at the Vatican in Rome, mouthing a prayer for Ben.

There was more, many more; some quiet and introspective, others filled with more adventure. The collection was priceless for Audrey, documenting the many trips her mom and Marie had taken over the years, showing her Mom at peace and relaxed and just enjoying her life.

The very last video made Audrey cry, as she watched her tipsy Mother trying to describe to the camera how wonderful a daughter she had, and how much she loved her, and how she was the best thing she'd ever done.

For the past week, Audrey had stayed up late watching this amazing collection, relishing the wonderful gift she'd been given and sending a silent thank you to Marie. After all, thanks to her thoughtfulness, Audrey did not spend the nights before the funeral crying and miserable; rather, she had time for laughter with the tears, time for smiles amid the heartbreak. Nights that should have been filled with grief were instead tempered by laughs and wonder and delight, celebrating a glorious life lived instead of a sad passing.

When she finally went to sleep last night, Audrey felt that she better understood her mother's friendship with Marie, and how she could seemingly cheer her Mom up anytime she was feeling low. After all, Marie had accomplished it with herself: she had smiled and laughed more these past few nights than she had in many, many months.

It was just another thing she had to thank Marie for.

Shaking her head fondly as her fingers trailed over the headstone, Audrey thought of the letter that came with the video player. It was still tucked into Audrey's purse, and had been there since she read it the first time. She carried it with her, cherishing the peace it brought her on this dark day, remembering the words clearly as they resonated in her heart.

Dearest Audrey,

On a day where our sorrows feel overwhelming and we are missing your wonderful Mom, I have enclosed some videos of her that I filmed during our 'Adventure Trips', as she said you had taken to calling them (she, btw, called them her 'personal therapy sessions'!). I hope they bring a smile to your face, so you can remember a side of Angela that few have seen. Your mom told me how you sometimes worried about her, and that you wondered if she harbored regrets about not having more 'fun' in her life, about being too serious and not relaxing often enough.

I hope these videos can show you otherwise; for while I acknowledge your Mother could stress and worry with the best of them, she also knew how to 'let her hair down' and just enjoy life.

Audrey, watching you grow-up through your Mom's eyes and through her effusive words and through hundreds of pictures of you, was a joy. I too only had a single child - a daughter - and Angela and I spent countless hours bragging about you both. Some of our happiest moments were simply sitting by a fire or at an outdoor cafe somewhere, showing each other pictures and videos of the pair of you as you grew, sharing in the delight that our children were safe and happy and loved.

Your Mother loved you Audrey, with every single fiber of her being.

Tomorrow shall be hard, for the both of us. I will, of course, be there to watch my oldest friend be laid to rest, and though you won't know me, my prayers will be with you.

I leave you with these words:

Angela Cheney - Your Beloved Mother and my Dearest Friend - was one of the rare lights in the world, a shining example of what the best in all of us could be, and I will carry her love and light in my heart, in this world and into the next.

With all my love,

Marie

Now, standing before the beautiful headstone, anchored in the ground where it would remain forever, her eyes admired it again. The central part itself was tall - perhaps seven feet - and fashioned with beautifully carved Angel's wings on each side, extended upwards and out, like they were reaching to Heaven. The wing feathers were superbly detailed and extraordinarily well-crafted, and the rest of the stone was polished to an unbelievably smooth, ivory white finish.

Reading the inscription for what must have been the tenth time, tears dripped down her cheeks, mixing with the misty rain. She was missing her Mom terribly, and was praying that all the things that her Mother believed in - all the possibilities they had discussed under the stars - were all true, and that even now she was reunited with her love: Angela and Ben forever together after the long years they'd been apart.

Wiping away the last of her tears, Audrey whispered a last goodbye to her Mom, took a last look around the empty grounds and then began walking slowly towards her waiting family, her old bones protesting the biting chill.

As she neared the waiting car, she spotted a group of mourners standing near a grave a few rows away. Her eyes passed over them in surprise - she hadn't noticed them before - and their pale skin stood out starkly against their black clothes and coats.

She stared at them for a long minute, and startled when her husband opened the door for her from inside the car, offering a hand to help her sit. She reached forward, taking his hand, but for some reason she let her eyes look one last time at the strange group, blinking at their pale faces through the mist.

Even as she began to sit, she noticed then that one of the men didn't seem to fit in with the rest. He wasn't pale, but was russet-skinned and very tall, and something about him looked vaguely familiar. Even as she scrutinized him, the woman next to him tilted her head, and Audrey's eyes alighted on her. She was tall and had bright, shiny bronze curls falling down the sides of her face and down over her shoulders. Her hair was particularly vibrant against her pale skin and black coat, and again something about her seemed familiar, so she tried to remember where she might have seen her before.

She stared at the strange group for another few seconds, nothing coming to her, and she finally shook her head. She raised her hand in a tentative wave to the group, somehow feeling like they were paying their respects. Then, she saw them all smile at her, and one of the dark haired women returned her gesture, a warm smile on her pale face.

Audrey nodded her head, and then turned and stepped into the limo. pulling the door closed behind her, and leaned into her husband.

A moment later, the car started and drove off.

Bella watched the car and it's passengers vanish up the road into the fading light. She wondered if she would ever see Audrey again.

With a sigh, Bella started forward a few moments later, the family walking with her towards Angela's gravesite. The couples were all holding hands, with Bella and Edward leading the way, their shoulders touching each other in silent support. When they all reached the still fresh plot, seeing many fresh flowers and piles of dirt strewn across the top of the coffin, they each silently prayed for Angela in their own way, before stepping away and giving Bella a few minutes alone.

Bella walked forward until she stood before the white headstone, her hands slowly tracing over its polished surface. She quietly cried, venom tears filling her eyes and her shoulders shaking as she prayed and offered thanks for her beloved friend. In her heart, she knew she would keep her promise to Audrey, and would remember Angela forever.

She took a shaky breath, and quietly whispered the words that she had written - and that the engravers had immortalized here on the polished marble - just a short week ago.

Angela Cheney
1987-2096

In Loving Memory

Beloved Wife, Mother, Friend.

Gentle Heart, and Caretaker of Those Who Needed a Helping Hand.

Our Loss is God's Gain, Come Guide His Angel Home

The End!

Sniffle.

Hope you all enjoyed! For everyone who reviewed - I thank you! That's the only way I can judge if you enjoy what I write!