Disclaimer: SM owns all right to Twilight.
Epilogue 2 (Amanda's Graduation)
APOV
I look at myself in the mirror inspecting my outfit. The girls and I went out a few days ago and found the perfect outfits or graduation. Mom was, so understanding when I picked this dress out. Dad of course had a fit but Mom took care of that one for me. I can't help but think how amazing she has been to me. She never had to take me in as her own and she has. She has defended me all through school, and I know that couldn't have been easy. She has supported me in any decision I have made and helped me clean up the mess when it all fell apart. She loves Mike, even when Dad thought he was a troublesome child. The day he picked me up on his motorcycle I really thought Dad was going to bust a vain. Mom just smiled at him and placed her hand on his chest calming him.
I never understood their relationship; I always thought it was obsessive and disgusting, until I met Mike. He came to town the beginning of sophomore year. Everyone but Mom jumped to conclusions because he had the same name as a man who attacked Mom so many years ago. Mom, being Mom, gave him no judgment she accepted him right away.
Mike walks in and wraps his arms around my waist kissing my cheek. He is so soft with me I have to pinch myself to make sure this is real. "Baby we're going to be late if you don't stop checking yourself out in the mirror." He laughs lightly.
I give him a little smirk as a response and turn in his arms wrapping mine around his neck. He lowers his head to kiss me and I start to curse my teenage hormones. Just as Mike's hands lower to my butt, my bedroom door flies open and there is my Dad and Anthony. My Dad sees our embrace and instantly turns red.
"Bella, you need to have a word with your daughter." He hollers not taking his eyes off of us. Mike drops his hands, out of fear for them I think, and turns to say something to my Dad but is stopped by him by raising his hand as my Mom walks up with her lipstick in hand.
"What's going on" She has a look of confusion on her face as she looks between me and my Dad.
"I walk up here to tell her we need to go and see her being groped by this….this… walking hormone." My Dad flips out.
"He was not groping me," I defend, "he was kissing me. It happens, Dad."
As he goes to respond my Mom steps in "Okay STOP!" She hollers with annoyance in her voice.
"But…" I start.
"Amanda" her tone is the warning one she gets when she is frustrated. "Mike, go down stairs, Edward come with me and Amanda…just hurry up. We have to leave in ten minutes." I nod and my room is empty once again. I fluff my hair a little and head down stairs. On the way I can hear my parents muffled voices talking.
BPOV
Sitting here watching my daughter sit on the stage in her cap and gown makes me remember back to the days when she was a little girl rolling around with the boys in the yard. Amanda is the prefect mixture of tough girl and prissy missy. Looking at her now my heart fills with pride as her principal calls her to the podium to give her speech.
"Staying true to Cullen fashion my speech is a little different." She flashed her award winning smile at us and continues. "My brother Seth stood here one year ago, holding the same honor I do, and spoke of support and how it got us here. I want to mention the stepping stones we all used.
We all have them but don't really pay attention to them, because some come and go and others we just keep with us subconsciously. For example, that guest speaker that came to talk to the senior class at the beginning of the year. We all found him to be a joke" She looked back at her class mates giggling softly, "but really he was a stepping stone for us. He gave us options for our lives and told us how to get there. Then you have teachers and your friends. They may not stick around but they teach you something along the way. That takes us to the ones you have for life. Your grandparents; they can be counted on to tell how perfect you are even when you have royally screwed up. Your bother and sisters; they teach you how to hold on to your inner child as everyone around you tells you to grow up. How about that boyfriend or girlfriend that drives your dad crazy by bringing out the wild side of you. Then there is the most important stepping stones that help build your foundation; your parents. I'm not talking about the ones who created you, I mean the ones that raise you and pull you out of the trouble you find."
Her eyes lock on the back of the room making me turn and look to see what has made her smile turn to a sneer mixed with a smirk. My eyes find what she sees….Tanya, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. It takes all I have to stay in my seat as Amanda continues her speech.
"They are the ones who don't walk away when something better comes along because, to them, there is nothing better than you. What they give you what helps you through your life. Even after they are gone the tools they give you will keep you going. They are the ultimate stepping stones to your future." Her look turns to us and her smile softens. "If you have any question how you will turn out look at them, they are what you will use to succeed. They are what you will be in the future, even if you try to fight it. Their wisdom will live on in you long after they are gone."
Edward takes my hand and smiles as Amanda take her chair. I see the pride he has in his eyes. All of a sudden his brown crease and I know what…or who he sees. I capture his attention and shake my head letting him know now is not the time. He relaxes in his seat and I turn my attention to Amanda again. She has her Father's smirk on her face and it makes me giggle to myself.
We wait right inside the doors leading to the parking lot for Amanda and Mike, with Mike's parents, when we hear Mike yelling. Denise and I take off running in the direction of the gown return room where they are supposed to be.
As we round the corner with Edward and Kyle on our heels we see Tanya is in Mike's face as Mike is holding Amanda behind him. Tanya is dishing out warnings to Mike and he is standing his ground in front of my daughter. Edward moves to try ad go between us and I grip his arm stopping him. When he turns to look at me I shake my head and motion for him to watch. I know what my husband needs to see to understand why I trust Mike with our daughter's life.
"Listen here you little shit, I wont have you getting in my way" Tanya snaps, pointing her perfectly manicured finger in Mike's face.
"She told you to leave; she doesn't want to see you. Now the exit is that way" He motions to the doors in the opposite direction of us. I can't help but grin at his smart thinking.
"You can't make me do shit." Tanya starts poking Mike in the chest making him clench his jaw.
Then Mike looks to Denise and me for help now that he knows we are there. Stepping forward I let Denise handle the most of it, he is her son.
"Alright, that's enough out of you," she starts is a calm tone, "that is my son you are insisting on jamming that fake fingernail into and I have seen enough. I don't know who you are but I would suggest you just scoot on out of here and let the children enjoy their day in peace. I believe this area is for graduates and their families only. From the looks of it you have no family here." I couldn't hold back the very unladylike snort at her final words.
Mike takes Amanda over to Edward and for the first time since they dated Edward smiled and shook Mike's hand. When Tanya's glare turned to the children Denise and I moved shoulder to shoulder blocking her view from them. It was Amanda's giggle that broke the staring match between the three of us.
We all looked at her like she was mental, making her laugh a little harder. As she calmed down she walked up behind us placing her arms on mine and Denise's shoulder and looks at Tanya sporting her Father's smirk. Tanya, in response, turns on her pointed heel and clicks down the hall out the door. When I turn around I see the guys have come up behind Amanda and stood there with their arms crossed, Mike standing in front of Edward and Kyle dead center.
After clapping Mike on the back and kissing Amanda and the side of the head he wraps his arm around me leading me back to where the rest of our family is. When we walk up to them Seth is chuckling "Mom you are bad ass, and Dee, you just rock. You guys made her run away with her tail between her legs." His wife slaps the back of his head for swearing in front of their daughter.
Amanda's graduation party is being held in our basement. So it's covered in the school colors, with all kinds of streamers, balloons, and posters. We moved the stereo system down here and Amanda brought her CDs. Seth offered to DJ her party, of course she swore him to secrecy as we have agreed to stay away. The cupboards and bar are stocked and the keys are handed to us as the kids walk through the door. In this area parents know the kids are drinking but we all have agreed to keep them over night and not allow them to drive drunk under any circumstances. We all remember we were kids once too so rather than fight them o we keep them safe as they have their fun.
EPOV
After our scene at the school my eyes were opened to what kind of man Mike really is. I saw him stand tall against Tanya as he defended my daughter with his own body. When I stopped and actually looked at the man before me instead of the boy who wants to take my daughter from me I saw the love in his eyes. I know the day I leave this world he will be there to take my place watching out for her. I think I might be placing her hand in hers before too long.
Bella saw it from the beginning but I just wouldn't listen. I really should listen to that gut of hers more often. It's just so hard to let your children grow; it only shows just how fast time goes by. One day you are changing diapers, the next you are teaching them about the birds and the bees, then you hand them off to make their own family in hopes that you did everything right but knowing you screwed up most of the time.
As I sit with my wife I remember back to the days when we first started out and how much she has given to both me and Amanda. Bella is really one hell of a woman and I know Amanda will follow in her footsteps and be just as strong. She may not be a doctor but I know in whatever she does she will be great.
It's not long and the door bell rings. Bella and I look at the clock and then at each other and smile thinking it has to be one of the late comers. Amanda comes dashing through the living room to the door, Mike walking quickly behind her. I can't help but wonder if maybe she has been around Alice a little too much. A few minutes later she is walking back in with Mike's arm around her waist. She pulls away from him and he lets her go so she can come between me and her Mother as Tanya enters looking like a sullen child.
She looks up with sad eyes and Amanda lifts her chin. "You said you wanted to talk, so talk." She says shortly.
"Amanda" Bella chides gently before turning her attention back to Tanya.
"I came to apologize. I was a rotten mother and I would like a chance to redeem myself. I would like to be apart of your life, be the Mother I was supposed to be this whole time." Bella takes a deep breath through her nose stating silent. We agreed if this happened we would let Amanda decide.
"You want to be my Mother now?" she asks calmly. "You want to be in my life now? Why? Why now? Why not when I had my heart broke over and over? Why not when I started my womanhood? Why not before when I needed you? Now all the hard part is done and you want to play Mommy? Please tell me you are kidding me. You left me, you didn't even want me. I have heard you say it yourself. I saw the deal you made with Grandma Cullen and it made me sick. Now, I'm not mad at you, I don't even hate you, I feel nothing for you." Amanda shakes her head a little squaring her shoulders. "No" she says bluntly "No I have a Mother and honestly I don't need you You."
Tanya hangs her head again. "Amanda has made her choice Tanya, please leave our home." I finally break the silence. Mike steps forward and Amanda places her hand in his chest shaking her head just like Bella does with me. Turning back to Tanya she calmly leads her to the door, opening it for her and allowing her to leave. When the door softly clicks closed Amanda returns to us and smiles brightly.
"Relax you guys my God. I wasn't planning on hurting her." She giggles and takes Mike's hand then skips back to the party. He follows willingly the look in his eyes only confirming the day he asks for my daughters hand isn't far off.
When the door to the basement closes Bella lets the tears fall while I hold her in my arms. My wife may be strong but she has one hell of a heart and it is easily affected by the children.
After a minute she looks up at me and smiles through her tears. "She's going to be just fine." She sniffs wiping her face.
I grin in response and take my wife to bed to show her just how much I love her.
Okay I know it took a while but it is summer time. I had to bring Amanda her closer with Tanya. Up next Seth's graduation…. Leave me a review please I love hearing your thoughts.