(A/N): Hiya! I am back :D I'm really sorry I wasn't able to update earlier. I had this all written out in my notebook...and was about half-way done with it when I was slaughtered by a total of 6 papers that are due almost consecutively over the span of 1.5 weeks. Their lengths range from 2 pages to 10 pages (there was one that was 15 pages) and I had just finished editing my last papers (due tomorrow [Monday and on Tuesday). (insert breaths of relief). After this ambush of the papers, I think I shall be paper-less for a short period. Well...I'll ramble on later...here's the last chapter :D enjoy!

Chapter 12 – Ever After

Bella was silent. The dry wind twirled her hair playfully, as if it were some joke to be laughed at. It was so full of life whereas all the life around here was drained and impoverished. Edward was still; his eyes closed as if he was only sleeping. He had no warmth to him; no one could tell. Yet, deep inside, Bella knew he was gone.

Tears streaked down her cheeks as she curled up by his side and cried until the rest of his family came. No one spoke, for they all lamented, frozen in shock. They stood there for the longest time. Bella never stopped crying, nor had she stopped clinging to Edward. She always murmured in his ear, sadly recalling all the memories they had together, always breaking off into sobs near the end before moving on to another one.

Time fled past. The sun had completely set. Carlisle looked meaningfully at Esme, who only nodded. She looked pointedly at Jasper. With a curt nod, Jasper pulled Emmett up to Bella. Together, they pried her away from Edward, kicking and screaming.

"Edward!" She screamed desperately. "Edward! Wherever you are! Listen! I love you now and I'll always love you! Do you hear me?! You are an idiot! Why'd you have to leave?" Her cries quieted as she sobbed heavily. "Why'd you leave me alone?" Emmett and Jasper let go of her, flinching as she sank to the ground, crying uncontrollably.

And as she cried, faint bells tinkered in the distance, sounding a melancholy melody that gradually grew in strength. The melody ebbed and flowed like an endless lazy river, running, gurgling, and bubbling with all the emotions of the world. It soothed and evoked; played and scolded; never ending, never ceasing.

The sun was long gone, but the music brought a new light. The sky blossomed into a myriad of colors that showered down in marvelous sparkles. It was like raining light. Where the sparkles touched the ground, it glowed for a moment before rising up in a cloudy sphere of light. The bubbling spheres rose gradually amongst the dropping sparkles, joining together to form a swirling rainbow ball of light – cold by elegant. The light cast one single ray of swirling spheres onto Edward. Even the music stopped. The world held its breath.

Slowly, the swirling spheres drew out a ruby chain – a glistening ruby chain that reflected the colors into all hues of red. The chain hovered above Edward, dancing lazily in the ebb and flow of the swirls, rising steadily. And as it rose, it brought Edward with it, too. Faint music started again, this time no longer melancholy. It was happy and spirited, rising in volume as the ruby chain traveled closer and closer to the big sphere of light.

With the softest pressure, the two meet. Immediately, the ruby shattered into a million rays of light. The ball glowed gloriously as hues of greens, blues, reds, and yellows danced about it in various bands. Sparkling rain dropped to the ground, leaving color everywhere. Before their very eyes, the rest of the Cullen family watched as their beloved castle was restored to its former glory – bright, happy, and breathtakingly beautiful.

And as their castle was restored, colored lights raced around everyone, bringing animals back into their former human shapes. Lights even swirled around Bella, bringing out a new shine to her brown hair and new beauty to her already beautiful features.

And they were gone as sudden as they appeared, leaving everyone else dumbstruck. Bella sprinted over to Edward, suddenly collapsing from her speed burst; it took her a blink of an eye to cross the balcony. "Edward?" She was…calm…it was as if she just awoke from a twisted dream, still shaking off the fear and loneliness that had enveloped her from before.

Edward was very still, though he seemed transformed from the display before. His skin glistened faintly as if coated by a thin sheet of sweat…yet there was no liquid there…an Adonis of perfect male beauty.

"Edward?" she called again, her voice ringing brightly and beautifully in the silence. Edward groaned in reply. Slowly, almost like waking from a deep sleep, he stirred.

"Bella?" he croaked, his voice raspy. She gasped, flinging herself onto him and hugging his breath out.

"Oh! Thank goodness you're okay!" She was laughing and crying at the same time. His eyes finally opened when a stray tear fell on his lips. With his thumb, he brushed her tears away before bringing her head down for an intoxicatingly sweet kiss.

"I love you, Bella. I love you so much," he whispered as between kisses. She moaned softly in reply.

Someone cleared his throat. They jumped apart to see six grinning faces. Edward's eyes widened; his arm reached to his neck as if searching for something. "It's gone, Edward! We're free!" cheered a young black-haired girl.

Bella's eyes widened. The Curse… they're free…

But before she could think any more, Edward leapt up, his eyes shining with excitement. Twirling her around and around, his laughter joined hers, and soon, the entire family joined in, hugging each other in merriment. He suddenly stopped, his excitement melting into…nervousness? He held her still, staring deeply into her eyes as he knelt down with one swift and graceful movement.

"Miss Isabella Swan," he said, clearing his throat. "You are my charm, my life, my joy, my heart, and most of all, my savior. I owe you my everything – I want to give you all you've ever desired. You've had my heart ever since I first saw you. For, in the process of saving me, I had unknowingly given it to you." He paused, frowning a little and tried to still his nervousness. "I guess what I want to say is, will you do me the honor of being the official keeper of my heart? Will you marry me?"

"Yes! A thousand times yes!" Bella cried, tears of joy trailing down her cheeks as Edward picked her up and spun her around. When he stopped, he pulled out a diamond and amethyst ring.

"This is the only thing I could ever truly call my own. I had it around my neck in a chain when Esme found me. It's yours now, to show that you're proudly taken by me," he whispered in her ear. She gasped at its beauty and then proceeded to whack him in the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"That was for having worried me half to death with your little stunt there," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "And this is for coming back to me, and being the best present I could ever want no matter the time," she added before kissing him. When they came up for air, she was not the only one having trouble breathing. "You have my love and my heart, too, forever and ever and ever and ever and…mmph…" Edward caught the rest of her words with his lips, stealing a perfect kiss.

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There was never a happier moment for Bella as she stepped down the aisle with her father. They had chosen that the wedding took place at the castle church, now fully restored to its former glory. Only close friends and family were invited, but she still had no idea she had so many relatives.

Alice was her Maid of Honor. She recalled her frenzied behavior as Alice ran throughout the castle seeking out the perfect colored fabrics for her gown. Bella grinned. Her wedding gown was the perfect mix of shimmering pale pink and yellow fabrics that hugged her at all the right places.

She looked up, grinning as she saw Emmett, Edward's best man, fidgeting – attempting to stay serene and serious. Beside him stood Edward. Her breath caught. Edward in a suit – his extremely pale skin contrasted with the dark tailcoat he wore. His eyes were a warm mix of gold and green. When she stared deeply into them, she could almost see splashes of gold swirling around the green sea with endless emotion.

In a daze, she reached him. He smiled at her, as if in relief that she did not run away, as if in disbelief that she was actually here. She smiled shyly back, eagerly brushing her lips against his in a tantalizingly chaste kiss that sent chuckles around the room.

The rest of the wedding seemed to pass in a blur of colors, noise, and happiness. The priest droned endlessly about how blessed he was to see the union of two people who found love and how much power God had given him to conduct this ceremony. And suddenly, the couple found themselves giving vows, drinking Champaign to toasts, and then cuddling on the balcony of their suite staring at the winking stars above.

"Remember when we first met?" Bella asked with a side look at Edward's silhouette.

"How could I not? I was still too deep in my misery to really understand anything."

"Yup!" she chimed. "What made you change?"

"Your charm and love." She giggled at his reply.

"How charming!"

"Oh really?" he chuckled as he suddenly twirled her around, pinning her to the nearest wall. "Shall I charm thee some more?"

She laughed, her laughter ringing like bells. "If you can catch me first!" and she ran. But she was not quick enough. Edward caught her in three strides. Picking her up, he laid her on the bed, quickly joining her.

"I caught you, love," he whispered.

"I know."

"And I am so very happy."

He was – they both were. Even the coldest heart could be melted; people could be changed for good; and even the most difficult curse could be broken. All you need to start with is a little bit of love.

---------------------------------The End---------------------------------

How'd you guys like it? My favorite part is the very last sentence...lol...it fits the title in the classic style :D For those of you who are wondering, yes, they all turned into vampires so they can live forever but no, they do not have to drink blood to sustain (their gift from the old woman). Bella's gift is charm. She can basically charm you into doing anything she wants you to do, no matter what you think of it :).

Please, everyone, leave a review on how you thought of the entire story...what you think of this chapter...anything. I like to hear from you. And, if you see any typos anywhere, please tell me, too.

Lastly, since school is still very, very busy, I'm debating whether I should start a new story and do updates like I did with the last 2 or 3 chapters of this one or should I start a one-shot sort of thing that I'll update whenever (most likely still once a month or so). Here's the idea for possible story(s):

1. Pirate story (Bella had always loved the sea; her skill and agility with swords and daggers would put any good sailor to shame. However, in the 1600s, girls were mainly forbidden on ships. Always ambitious to become a pirate someday, she disguises herself as a boy and worked on a government ship in hopes of meeting one. When she was 16, her ship was actually attacked by a desperate pirate ship; everyone either were held prisoner or were sunk. The captain of the pirate ship was Edward Cullen, who had sworn to let no woman, except his two sisters (in-law) on his ship.) That's a very short summary of the story idea...not totally developed yet though...

2. Snow White (Kind of self-explanatory :D)

3. Series of one-shots (only, it won't really be all one-shots. It'll be more like a journal in which I update random chapters from all sorts of story ideas...sometimes, there'll be two chapters from the same story...sometimes only a middle chapter from a half-developed one)

So yes...drop a review on what you thought of this one and also put in a vote! I've trouble deciding a lot of stuff lately :D

Cathy