Final Chapter & Epilogue... enjoy!

Chapter 16: Royalty for Eternity

Bella's Point of View:

Jacob didn't say anything else for the car ride. Renesmee was now asleep on my lap, and she didn't wake even when Jacob turned off the car in the garage. I made to open my door, but my slightly faster husband was there before I could put my foot out of the car.

"Seriously, Edward, I'm fine now. There's no chance of the stewardess catching me walking here."

He pretended he didn't hear it, but let me lead the way inside.

Although Jacob drove fast, it was not close to the speed that vampires forced onto their cars. So, the whole of our family was seated in the family room when we walked in.

Edward sat down with me and his sleeping daughter on the couch alongside Max.

Seven pairs of expectant eyes stared at us, waiting for us to begin. "I suppose I should begin, here," Max said.

Edward and I nodded our heads at him, and he began the story about his trouble with the Volturi, how they were after him, and when he met me running.

I picked up, then, and began to tell the story starting with our meeting with Aro, and finishing with our discussion of plans in the forest with Edward.

There were many unspoken questions as I continued, our family wondering about the details of our shared mind. I tried not to listen to them, but as long as I was paying attention to Edward our minds heard everything together. No one said anything aloud, too stunned to speak.

I heard Alice's mind go into overdrive as I briefly mentioned our meeting with Alice's favorite old designer and she looked meaningfully at the bag at Max's feet.

Edward took over as he took on the role of explaining our take over. The hushed silence as Aro fell to the ground, the anger of Jane as she desperately tried to make Edward Max and I feel pain, the attempts of Alec and others trying to make it past my force field and mental shield.

At this point I noticed Emmett grinning, and thought, not only to Edward, but to me: 'BELLA! Our little discovery about your talent came to this! I'm proud of you, sis!'I smiled at Emmett, and he seemed shocked that I had really heard what he thought.

As the hours ticked by, and we answered question after question, finally, it was Renesmee who asked the question that made us all smile.

"Does this mean I'm a princess?"

"Well, yes, in a way, sweetie, you are." I said, smiling down at her.

I looked out to the family, "And I'll have to move to Volterra for a little while, at least. Get things sorted out, announce to the Vampire world what has happened, set our new code of conduct, everything."

"I'll be right there with you, love." Edward said.

"Me too, mom!" Renesmee said happily. She was so happy to see us, and I couldn't be happier to be with her.

Everyone else told us that they would come visit frequently, and perhaps stay for some time once they got everything settled over here. Jacob said as soon as we told the blood-suckers to not attack him, he'd be right there.

"It shouldn't take too long right?" I said to Edward, hoping our life had a chance of going back to normal.

"No, not long love. Just a fraction of eternity." He said, a small smile on his lips. And in my mind, I knew more than anything that it wouldn't matter if I was living in the jungles or ruling the entire vampire world, as long as we were together.

I smiled as Edward's thoughts echoed mine, forever one.

Epilogue: Golden

Many, many years later…

I had not wanted to be a formal ruler, and I didn't think this would occupy my whole life, that I would be called upon to make decisions every day. The vampires in Volterra, however, insisted upon me formally being the queen. They had welcomed me quite openly, and the first thing to do was send out correspondences to every vampire, informing them of the newest ruler, along with an attachment that listed the new set of laws and things that would change in the vampire world. Many came to visit, offer congratulations, and gawk in the beauty and grace of the then little Renesmee.

Those upset due to their loyalty to Aro, quickly turned around to the new set of laws. A few were severely upset about the new diet restrictions, others happy to know we would be making sure the biggest, most appetizing animals were in good supply. We didn't necessarily prohibit a human diet, we just strongly cautioned against it, and to avoid it as much as possible. Some of the animals we started to breed (especially for smell and taste) were smelling just as good as a human, anyway.

Every few years or so, my family and I switch out watching Volterra, we didn't want to constantly be underground, locked away. New tasks, such as setting laws and regulations for the increasing number of half-vampires fell upon me. The only other species (vampire/werewolf/human) on the rise were my own grandchildren, but they listened to their parents unwaveringly, and often opted to live and die among humans, as the Cullens once did. However, the final say in matters always came back to me. It's my word on everything.

Sometimes Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett would watch for a year, controlling the vampire population, keeping up the supply of animals. Then Edward and I, Renesmee and Jacob would go off maybe do some formal education, explore, and visit our vampire friends and family. Carlisle and Esme, remaining faceless, so no one would notice that the owner lived forever, started their own hospital, the best in the world. The basement, where Carlisle and Esme spent their working hours, was locked and secured away from the public and was the only hospital that took care of werewolves, half-vampires, and the like.

And the most special time, was for a few months every decade or so, when Max, or a wolf, or a fraction wolf/human/vampire (Renesmee and Jacob's elder children) would do us a favor, watch Volterra and the hospital, and let the oldest Cullens whisk away together to Isle Esme or this beautiful strip of island lost way out in the Pacific Ocean that Edward had bought me for our 100th anniversary.

Whatever it was, no matter where we were, we were always a family, bound by golden rods, shimmering and extraordinarily unbreakable, sometimes stretching for miles across land and ocean, but it was beautiful, and I could only see it through the golden eyes of my brother Max, and his glorious gift: the test of love.

Just thought I'd finally finish this up, give it a proper conclusion.

Hope everyone who has read, reviewed, added me as a favorite, and put my story on their alert list, have enjoyed this little story. I'll probably go back and edit this for clarity and things later, but other than that this is the final chapter.

If anyone really wants it, I may consider writing some more detail on the life of the Cullens in Volterra, but otherwise, this story is done. Questions, comments and concerns are always welcome.

Thank you all for everything!