I apoligise for the late update tonight. My husband and I spent yesterday at the hospital because he was in a lot of pain from a reoccurring abdominal issue and then today was spent in out patient appointments, so this is the first chance I've had to update! So please forgive me.


I know some of you have followed me since I started writing so I just wanted to give you guys an update on my life. I'm officially a Permanent Resident in the USA and I applied for and received my social security number the other day, which means in a few weeks I'll be able to start working! I'll officially be a teacher in this wonderful country.

Sad news though, this means I probably won't be writing anything more for a while. My writing brain is always thinking of new ideas though so you never know, there could be something new coming out that I don't know about yet. I had a reader suggest fleshing this story about a bit with more dialogue which I will likely do at some point when time isn't so much of an issue. I wanted it to be short for now in the hope of extending it at a later date.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the final chapter of In the Shadows. It's been an enjoyable ride and I feel like I've grown every time I write something new because you guys have giving me such wonderful feedback. I hope you enjoy it and as always let me know what you think!


Chapter 11

The weeks after Anthony is born are exhausting. There are continual, around the clock feedings and it seems as though we have been given a baby who doesn't enjoy sleeping by himself. However, Edward and I come together as a team and we make it work, along with the help of our wonderful family. There have been tears and weeks without slow but intertwined in those hardships are beautiful family moments where we just get to simply enjoy our wonderful, gorgeous, cute son.

We celebrate Edward's birthday all together at his parents house a few weeks after Anthony is born and I'm once again reminded of how lucky I am to have stumbled into this family. Edward loves the present I got for him and Rosalie and Alice ask me who I did it, since their husbands are so taken with the idea and want one for themselves. Edward also loves the matching superhero themed shirts I got for him and Anthony. So much so in fact that he changes himself and Anthony's clothes as soon as he realises what they are so that they can be matching.

The entire evening is filled with so much love and fun and affection. Anthony sleeps on and off throughout the evening and enjoys being cuddled by his grandparents and aunts and uncles. He's as much a part of this family as I am and it never fails to warm my heart when I see how accepting they are of the both of us. Emmett and Jasper can't wait until he starts talking and running around. The mischief they're going to get up to with my boy is going to be endless. But I know for certain that he'll be in safe hands.

We hear from the police a few days later with an update on my fathers case, thankfully it's good news. There's enough evidence to lock him away for a long time on police corruption charges alone. However, they also plan on charging him with the physical assault and battery of a minor as well as mental and emotional abuse and neglect of a minor. My mother will also be charged for similar crimes as well as failing to report the abuse of a minor and aiding in the continual abuse of a minor. Between the two of them they'll be behind bars for quite some time. Which comes as an unbelievable relief.

We receive a phone call from the police department on the day that Anthony starts lifting his head on his own while laying down. I'm shocked to find out that only a few weeks after the charges were filed against my parents by the DA that I won't be required to testify. Both of my parents have admitted to being guilty and have settled for a plea bargain, which means there's no trial and they go straight to sentencing. It's a relief in many ways. I won't be examined and cross examined or made to sit on the witness stand and recall the years of horror, neglect and abuse I endured. Or try and defend my reasons for not seeing help.

But there's a small part of me that feels robbed. I wanted the world to know what terrible human beings these so called parents were. I wanted them to receive the maximum amount for their crimes and feel the shame and humiliation I felt for years. It was a difficult few weeks for me after hearing the news. I talked extensively about it with my therapist and with Edward. They understood the anger I had inside of me and why it felt as though justice hadn't properly been served.

In November of the same year Edward and I decided to get married, surrounded by our loved ones. It's a small ceremony that takes place in his parents back yard. We invite all of our friends and family and a few of his work colleagues. We enjoy a delicious meal together at the fanciest hotel in town once the ceremony is finished. And after the reception is over we head upstairs to the honey moon suite. We plan on flying out to Bali the following day together but we wanted a night together before the long trip.

Esme and Carlisle take Anthony for the night so we can enjoy ourselves without interruption and will keep looking after him once we fly out. He loves his Nanna and Poppa so much, it's beautiful and I have complete faith that they will dote and spoil him rotten.

When Edward I head upstairs to our suite the air becomes charged with electricity. It continues to grow and grow as the elevator rises, until it's so thick that it's almost physically tangible. We've seen each other naked before, plenty of times, and we've certainly spent a lot of time exploring each others bodies, but we still haven't had sex. We had to wait until after the baby was born because I was just too uncomfortable with my size and then I didn't think I was physically appealing enough for quite a while afterwards. Then we started planing the wedding and Edward suggested we wait until the honeymoon.

And here we are.

The suite is beautiful. Covered in soft gold silks and accented with dark undertones. Edward takes my hand and draws me inside. He passes me a flute of champagne as we pass the entry table and pulls me further into our room. We both take in the wonderful sight in front of us and quietly sip our drinks, enjoying the peaceful sheet of serenity that has been drawn over us.

There's soft music playing from somewhere in the room and when Edward takes my glass away I know what he wants. We softly sway to the music and relish in the closeness of each other's bodies. He looks amazing in his black tuxedo. All sharp lines and crisp black edges. It makes my mouth water. My eyes wrake over him, taking him in and I know he's doing the same to me.

My dress is simple but incredibly elegant and it makes me feel graceful for the first time in my life. The ivory lace and silk slip softly over my skin and I love the way it feels whenever I move. I'd wear this everyday day if it was appropriate. As the song comes to an end I feel Edward's fingers begin to work at undoing the zipper and buttons that run the length of my spine.

My dress drops to the floor when he finishes inching the fabric down. Stepping back he takes me in, admiring my soft skin and the simple but sweet lingerie I'm wearing.

"You're a vision."

Leading me towards the bed, Edward lowers me and presses his weight carefully on top of me. Our mouths join together at last and his warm tongue begs for entrance. We lay together for a few moments, simply enjoying the languid movements until we can't wait any longer. Reaching behind me, Edward unclasps my bra and throws it behind us. I hear a soft thud when it lands but I'm immediately distracted by the feeling of one of my nipples being drawn into a warm mouth.

Edward was reluctant at first to play with them after the baby was born. They were tender from Anthony's constant suckling but once I was use to it Edward would lavish them his mouth as much as possible. I thought at first he'd be put off by the milk but it turns out Edward quite enjoyed it. And he's not about to let an opportunity to pass him by. So once again he draws them into his mouth and gently laves at them. My panties come off next and Edward trails his lips down to my centre. We've done this before but there's something different about it this time. Maybe it's because he's still completely clothed or because we're married now. But it feels different. Deeper, more sensual.

His fingers join his mouth as he works me over. Heat rises inside me, taking over my body completely. There's a coiling deep within me and I know what happens next, what that sensation means. My legs raise on their own accord and I rest them on his shoulders, drawing him in closer before the coil is released. I moan his name, panting until I come down from my blissful high.

I feel Edward's heat leave me for a few moments before he joins me again. He's naked now and I take a moment to enjoy the feeling of him pressed up against me completely. He settles between my legs and gently draws me closer until the swollen head of his cock is resting at my entrance. His eyes find mine, searching for something and when he finds what he's looking for he begins inching his way inside. Our lips and tongues and teeth dance and clash together in sync. And when he's fully sheathed inside me we both moan into each others mouths.

"I love you." He says, before drawing out and pushing back in.

He's thick and long but my body eventually adjusts. And when it does there's only pleasure left in its place. It's unlike anything I've ever felt before. Our speed quickens when he realises I'm no longer uncomfortable and before I know it the coil is tightening again. My fingers finds my clitoris and they begin to rub frantically. The sight make Edward shudder and momentarily lose his pace. He recovers quickly though and increases the pass of his thrusts. He's pounding away now, drawing into me deep and pulling out almost completely.

It won't be long now until we both reach completion.

I know exactly when Edward begins coming inside me. He makes the same noise every time. It's not quite a grunt or a groan, but it's perfectly Edward. I can feel him release in me and it's enough to push me over the edge. I toss my head back and moan out what I think is his name.

He draws me into his side once we both recover and it doesn't take long for us to succumb to sleep. It's been a long and exhausting day but it's ended perfectly. The next two weeks are going to spectacular. I can feel it in my bones. When I dream that night I dream about our tropical vacation. I dream about warmth and fancy hotels and clear water. I dream about good food and massages and warm weather. But mostly I dream about Edward and having him by my side.

I love this man irrevocably. And I know that will never change. I can't wait for the next stage in our lives to begin, although I'm also completely content in living in the moment. For the first time in my life I'm safe and loved and have my own family and a beautiful little boy. I've come along way since meeting Edward and his family and I can't wait to see what our next chapter will be.

~ The End ~


Thank you everyone for reading my story and commenting along the way! You guys are awesome and I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. And well done to those of you who guessed the correct sex of the baby. Make sure to follow this story incase there are updates or if I decide to flesh it out a bit or do a epilogue at some point.

A huge thank you once again! Love you guys xoxo