AN: I want to thank you all for the wonderful reviews, it made me want to get this to you. I hope you enjoy it – but I want you all to note that this is the last chapter and there will be an epilogue.

Disclaimer: SM owns all things Twilight.

My Goodbye to You

"Isabella Swan"

I started moving forward as my name was called and echoed through the gymnasium. I took slow and steady steps, making sure not to trip. I reached the principle and shook his hand while simultaneously receiving the black folder that held my educational accomplishment. When I reached the end of the stage I smiled until I was blinded by a flash of light.

Momentarily stunned I felt arms wrap around me and lift me up off the ground.

"We did it little sis!" Emmett boasted, earning a glare from the teacher positioned to keep us moving along. We took our seats and watched as the rest of our classmates received their diplomas. At the end our principle presented us as the class of 2010, we followed normal commencement ceremony procedure and all threw our hats in the air with grand smiles on our faces.

With Emmett as my guide we were able to find the rest of our group by one of the vending machines in the hallway. Alice and Edward were the last to meet us. Rosalie and Emmett were locked in a passionate kiss, that was sure to turn pornographic had it not been for Jasper placing his hand their shoulders to calm them down.

I was watching with humor as Rosalie dismounted my brother and blushed. I was so stunned that she actually had a pink tinge to her cheeks that I was surprised when two small arms wrapped around my waist.

"I can't believe we're done Bella!"

I returned Alice's hug as tightly as she was giving. Tears began to grow in my eyes as I thought about the day in January where we cleared the air.

I had just finished reading a book of poetry by Shel Silverstein "Where the sidewalk ends," a Christmas gift from Emmett. He thought that I needed something more modern and that he wanted to talk books with me, and that was the only thing besides magazines and school required material that he has read and enjoyed.

Alice walked into my room as I was placing the book on the shelves that Charlie had recently put up.

"Bella, can I talk to you?"

It wasn't really a question, because she had already situated herself on my bed. I still hadn't told anyone but Charlie and Carlisle what had happened and I had been avoiding any situation where I was around Alice at all costs.

"I feel like you don't like me, and I don't know why. I mean Jasper has explained to me that I come across as a strong character and that sometimes that can be a deterrent from people wanting to be around me. I just thought we had cleared the air."

She looked so sad and broken, something that I never thought she was even capable of. I sat on the other side of the bed and just started talking, but only looking at the floor. Kate had told me that I shouldn't just assume things and I need to find out the whole story. This was my chance to do it with Alice.

"I heard you at the dance."

"What do you mean?"

"When you were in the bathroom with Jessica and Lauren, I heard what you said in the bathroom, about me and my dress."

"Bella, I wasn't talking about you honey. I went shopping with Jane and the dress she was waring was bordering on matronly. Jane's my cousin and my mom had asked me on Thursday to go shopping with her, because Alec had asked her to the dance. I left the room right after I said that she didn't take my advice."

I looked at her in the eyes and couldn't find any falsehood in them. Feeling ashamed that once again my stupidity had caused a lot of my problems, I explained the rest of the conversation that I had heard. Soon we were both hugging and crying on my bed until Sue came and got us for supper.

Over the next few months we became close and I spent a lot of my time with Rosalie and her.

Alice's arms were removed from my waist and replaced with the warm body that owned me. Edward whispered congratulations in my ear and kissed the top of my head. We had kept any form of affection relatively G when Emmett was present. We had gotten back to where we were before the dance and even a little further, but those thoughts always caused me to blush so I would put a stop to them as soon as possible.

"Alright ladies and gents, I believe it is time for a little par-tay!"

Emmett's voice reminded us of our evening plans. While the majority of the class was heading to La Push beach, we had decided to camp out in the Cullen's basement.

Ж

The months of the summer had gone by fairly quickly. The majority of time was spent as a group or coupled off. We were all heading to different parts of the country come August and we wanted to spend as much time together as possible. I wasn't sure how we were all going to function, because when I said we were all going different places I meant it. Emmett received a football scholarship to University of Washington, and was staying the closest to home. I was headed to Northwestern in Chicago after receiving a partial scholarship from an essay I had written, my major was going to be social work. Edward was going to Dartmouth as most Cullen men had done, he had confided in me a desire to major in pre-law and not medicine. Alice was off to NYU for fashion and Rosalie was going to UCLA to major in mechanics. Jasper was leaving for Texas as undetermined.

Edward and I had discussed at nausium about how our relationship would work, he had faith that it would last. I wasn't so sure, while I had come leaps and bounds since December I still couldn't put 100% of my faith in anything. Edward, being Edward understood and said he had enough for both of us, until I was ready to carry my full share.

Rosalie and Emmett had chosen to share the rest of the summer and keep in touch once they left, but not pursue their relationship any further. They said they still loved each other, and if it's meant to be they will find their way back to each other, but they didn't want to limit the other.

Jasper and Alice's answer was an engagement. This gave Alice 4 years to plan her perfect wedding, I was glad she would be a few states away so I didn't have to be involved daily with her preparations.

Rosalie was the first to leave, Emmett cried and asked to be left alone. Next to go was Alice with promises of e-mailing color options for possible themes. Jasper went the next day, no tears were shed but we would miss him. Edward needed to go 2 days later. We both cried and still promised our love to the other, he kissed me with more passion than I've ever known. That was when my faith became as much as his, and from his smile he knew it.

My family left to take Emmett to UW and get him settled, from their Charlie, Sue and myself would fly to IL. Emmett had banned any tears and stated only laughter during his goodbye. Charlie went along with this, Sue and I had slightly more difficulty.

Eventually Sue, Charlie and I made it to Northwestern where we found my dorm room and started loading things in. Due to some of my panic attacks and nightmares I was granted a single, as well as some prescriptions. Kate had recommended a colleague of hers in Chicago a Dr. Marcus Volturi. Charlie and I met with him the next day and we both felt comfortable and confident that he would be able to continue where Kate had left off. During summer breaks I would return to her.

Ж

The first few months of school were torture. Edward and I would e-mail and talk daily, neither could afford trips to see each other, but we made plans for him to fly to Chicago and then we would fly home to Seattle together. I spoke with Emmett once a week, he was pledging for some fraternity and with football he did not have that much free time. I think he dated a few girls, but nothing serious enough for him to mention their names to me.

I talked to Jasper a lot more than I would have thought I would. He had chosen a double major of English and History, with his new love of reading we had a lot more in common than before. I talked to Alice, not as much as the others, she had been busy with her new life and enjoyed the freedom that being on her own afforded. In fact she loved her freedom so much that she broke off her engagement to Jasper and started dating someone named Felix, from what Rosalie had told me he was a nude male model in one of her art classes. Jasper handled it like only Jasper can, he said as long as she was happy then he was. I don't think he had dated anyone new since she called him.

Rosalie was similar to Emmett, she was busy with joining a sorority and a job at a garage. She dated a few people, but I think it was more out of wanting to try something new. I knew from my conversations from both of them they were looking forward to seeing each other at Christmas. I don't think their hiatus from their relationship would be lasting much longer.

I was waiting at the terminal for my flight out of Chicago, and waiting for Edward to show, I had been watching his flight and was glad to see their was no delays. A package of peanut buttercups was dropped into my lap causing my head to snap up. My eyes locked with a familiar pair of green eyes and I was out of my seat and in his arms, lips attached to his in .5 seconds.

"Oh, baby I missed you so much."

I didn't respond and continued my assault on his mouth.

We eventually parted and made our way to our plane, hand in hand. For the majority of the plane ride neither of us spoke. I know it sounds a little sickening, but we just sort of stared at each other. We had spoken every day so we had been informed of our lives, for the time being we were just were.

When we arrived at the baggage claim in Seattle we were assaulted by my bear of a brother. I'm pretty sure he had grown even more. After our greetings he loaded our luggage into his jeep, where a very happy blonde was waiting for us.

"I missed you Bella. You look so good, college is treating you well?"

I nodded happily and the 4 of us headed to Forks. Emmett said that Jasper arrived last night and was already there, Rosalie said that Alice had opted to stay in New York for the holidays. None of us said anything, we didn't know what had happened to her. She talked to us all less and less and her behavior was becoming odd, from what we could tell. I had talked to Marcus about it and he suggested that sometimes when people are removed from their environment that we all react differently and maybe this was how Alice needed to adjust.

Christmas came and went, with a few shocking events. Rosalie gave Emmett the best gift she could think of, she was transferring to UW. She said she couldn't and didn't want to be apart from him any longer. While Rosalie stayed in Washington with Emmett the rest of us returned to our respective parts of the country and went back to the way we had lived the first semester.

Spring break was pretty low key, Edward and I were able to return to Washington, but Jasper decided to stay in Texas. He had met a girl named Maria that had invited him wit her friends for a small road trip to Mexico. None of us had spoken to Alice since before Christmas, even though we had all tried.

Ж

The summer came faster than I would have thought possible, but I cannot say that I'm sad about it. While I have made some friends in Chicago no one can compare the group of people I met in Forks. Due to different final schedules and family plans Edward and I would be arriving at Forks about a week after each other. Charlie flew to Chicago to help me pack and we stopped in Seattle to help Rosalie, her family and Emmett move back home.

Sue met us at the door when we all came traipsing in. She said she was about to kick Charlie out of the house if we didn't come home soon. Charlie and Carlisle had gone fishing more, but from what I gathered from Sue Esme and her felt that they both were experiencing some empty nest blues, though neither would be likely to admit to it.

While we were having dinner that night the district attorney, Elaezor Graff.

"Hey Charlie, Sue, kids. I hate to interrupt you all during your family dinner, but I have some news you might be interested in."

"Oh hush now, you are always welcome. Emmett go get a chair for Elaezor. Elaezor you sit and have some spaghetti, we have plenty." Sue said while turning into Mrs. Hostess 2011.

"Thank you. So the reason I'm here is I wanted to tell you we were able to finally get enough evidence to corroborate James' testimony that Tanya and Jessica were sort of the ring leaders and actually took part in some of the scare tactics directed at Bella."

We all sort of sat in stunned silence, I had given up on any charges being filed against them and had even started working with Marcus on accepting that fact.

"That's not it, Jessica flipped on Tanya. So as of right now the only people who will be on trial are Tanya and Jacob, as he is still denying any involvement. Also their attorney's have agreed to a dual trial."

Charlie was the first to break the quiet that filled our small kitchen.

"Woman, get this man some of that cheesecake I saw in the fridge."

"You're lucky I was already thinking that, and that I'm in such a great mood. Otherwise, Man, you would be sleeping on the couch."

I couldn't hold it in any longer, I just started to laugh. Tears were pouring down my face and as the relief washed over me. Emmett started doing the cabbage patch.

"Dad, who gave crack to the Swans?"

Edward's voice broke me out of my laughter. I jumped out of the chair and wrapped my arms and legs around him and started kissing any part of his face I could reach. Faintly in the background I heard Charlie filling in the rest of our new comers on the information.

Ж

The trial went by faster than I thought possible, and I was thankful for that fact every day. Before the end of the trial we had learned that the original idea was Tanya. While Jessica had made it known that she disliked me being in her home, Tanya spurred the anger, apparently wanting to take her frustration of the demise of her relationship out on someone. James and Lauren testified that Tanya had been sleeping with James and Jacob as payment for any part they had in dealing with me. James informed the jury that there was another plan during the dance and he was to take me, rape me and kill me.

Jacob and Tanya were found guilty of their respective charges and as both were 18 they would be serving their terms as adults. I asked not to celebrate that night, the end of their lives as justice for me was a hard pill to swallow. While I had come a long way I still didn't feel that I was worth it.

I woke up the following morning still feeling a little conflicted about the events of the past year and the trial. I saw Charlie in the kitchen with a bowl of cereal and the paper.

"Hey Bells."
"Morning Charlie" I stated as I took a seat next to him, pouring myself my own bowl.

"You doing alright kid?" he asked as he put the paper down on the table

I shrugged which earned the natural response in this house of a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what to feel. On one hand I'm glad justice was served and what not, but on the other hand I'm still not sure my life was worth what essentially the end of those 4."

Charlie stood up, took my hand and led me outside and sat down on the porch swing that Sue had installed after Emmett and I had left.

"Isabella, I want you to listen to me and I want you to listen to me good. You are worth so much in this life, and you deserve so much more justice then you will ever see in this life. You have survived and overcome so much and you have come such a long way in your treatment, and I am so proud of you baby girl. I love you, Sue loves you, Emmett loves you, the Cullen's love you, Rose and Jasper love you and so many more people. Don't look at me like that, it goes with out saying how much Edward loves you, hell it should go without saying how much I love you but I'm your father I get to say it as much as I want."

I hugged him, not really knowing what to say. I knew at some point I would believe him fully. We heard some banging inside the house and Charlie stood taking my hand to stand up with him and we walked in to the house hand in hand, father and daughter.

"I love you too dad."

AN: I know this was a little shorter, but there will be an epilogue.