This is the end, folks :(. Thank you if you have reviewed or added this as a favourite story. It's my birthday tomorrow so some reviews would be lovely ;-)

CHAPTER 30

"The fire department seem happy it was an arson attempt. They said that the fire was well contained and so the damage was localised to the bar area of the club. We shouldn't have any problems with insurance, Edward," said Jasper, leaning back in his office chair. Edward nodded, distractedly. We were sat in Jasper's office, all of us a little dazed from the fight. Rosalie looked especially proud of herself and Emmett was currently stood behind her massaging her shoulders. Alice was standing at Jasper's side, a faint smile on her face. Edward had sat on the couch, pulling me onto his lap, keeping his arms locked around me as if afraid to let me go.

"Laurent was caught by the wolves. Jacob took him out before he could get here," continued Jasper.

"Is Jacob ok?" I asked, feeling a stab of guilt that I had not asked earlier.

"He's fine," said Esme, giving me a small smile. Carlisle and Esme had stayed with the wolves, watching and waiting. "He needed to check on his pack."

"Was there a problem?" asked Jasper, raising an eyebrow.

"No, there were only the three of them. James had no other allies. Now the three of them are gone, Bella will be safe," said Carlisle. "Luckily no one else was hurt or involved in the skirmish."

"Just the club," said Emmett, with a grim smile.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry," I said. Edward's arms tightened around me.

"This was not your fault, my love," he said. I didn't respond, because my only answer would have angered him; this was entirely my fault. I had run from James, thinking he would never catch up with me and had involved these people in my flight. And he had killed my father and my friend, all because I had the temerity to leave him.

"Isabella," said Jasper, suddenly getting up and crossing the office to where I was sat. He crouched before me so that we were looking directly into one another's eyes. I looked at him a little nervously. "James was the worst kind of vampire. He took you, used you for your blood and glamoured you so that you wouldn't remember what he had done. When you worked out he was abusing you, you did what any sane person would; you left him. He did not deserve your loyalty or your affection, but you gave him both for longer than you should have. His attacks on people were fuelled by blood lust and had nothing to do with you. He killed your father because your father was on to him. And he killed your friend because she was an easy target. He flattered and glamoured her after your father's funeral. You were in no way responsible for anyone's death. Do you understand me?"

I nodded, a little uncertainly. Jasper still intimidated me a little. He smiled and his whole face changed.

"As for the damage done here tonight, we all played a part in that."

"Hell, Bella, that's the most fun I've had in ages!" said Emmett, with a laugh. I glanced across at him shyly. "Seeing Rosalie take that bitch out with her shoe is one of the hottest things I've ever seen!"

"You are such a lug," said Rosalie, rolling her eyes, but leaning up to kiss him on the lips anyway.

"And more importantly, you are still alive, my love," murmured Edward, gently turning me to face him. He pulled me down to him and kissed me. I smiled, but there were tears in my eyes.

"The last few years have been very traumatic, Bella," said Carlisle. "You should expect there to be some hurt. But we will all be here for you. I promise you, you are not alone."

"Of course not," said Esme, gently reaching across to touch my tear-stained cheek.

"What can we do?" asked Alice. "How can we make you feel better?"

"I don't know," I mumbled. "I guess... I want to go visit my dad."

"I will take you," said Edward, quietly. I half-smiled up at him and then looked away, tears stinging my eyes.

"Dad, there's so much I want to tell you, so many things I want to talk to you about. James is gone. I know you always said two wrongs don't make a right, but he was such an evil man. I think you knew what he was, Daddy. I suppose you couldn't have not known with what he did to you... what he did to me... I met someone else. He's a vampire too, but he's different. He loves me so much, Dad. I think you'd have liked him; he's always telling me to put my seatbelt on, just like you used to. I guess he wants to protect me; it's kind of nice. It makes me feel like you're watching over me too. Do you remember when I was fifteen and you didn't like my date to the prom? I gave you such a hard time about it, Dad, but you were right. When we got there he was kissing another girl; I remember I felt so betrayed. And you had warned me. I never told you because I hated to admit you had been right. You were always right. Except with James; he fooled us both, didn't he? I hope he arrives at the gates of Hell and they let you out of Heaven long enough to meet him there. You deserve your revenge on him too.

"I've changed, Daddy, so much. I don't know what you would say about what we've done. But it was the only way to stop James from hurting me and... I love Edward. I can't be without him. I am bound to him forever, Dad, but I am so happy. My only regret is you will never see him and that I will never see you again. I love you, Daddy."

I rubbed my eyes, staring down at his grave, as I set the flowers I had bought in the small vase in front of his stone. Edward's hands suddenly came down on my shoulders. I turned to him and managed a faint smile through my tears.

"He would be very proud of you, Bella," he said, softly. I didn't reply, but got to my feet slowly.

"What do we do now, Edward?"

"We return to Twilight," he said, with a small shrug. "And we live our lives such as they are."

"I've missed Twilight," I said, as we walked down the path back to his car. He opened the door for me.

"Put your seatbelt on," he said, as he got in. I laughed, softly and he leaned across and kissed my lips.

"You have missed waitressing?" he said, as he pulled out.

"I've missed everything about it," I said, with a shrug. "The waitressing, the clients, the other staff... my boss."

Edward rolled his eyes at that and shook his head.

"I'm not sure I can let you go back to waitressing, love," he said.

"Why?"

"Not sure I can stomach watching those men pawing at you and thinking lewd thoughts."

"Well, Edward, take comfort in the fact that the only one who gets to do anything with his lewd thoughts about me is you," I said, laughing at the darkening of his eyes, as I reached across and placed a hand on his thigh, giving him a sly look out of the corner of my eye.

"Isabella, I am trying to drive," he growled, but his lips twitched into a smile. "Perhaps we can investigate some of those lewd thoughts when we get home?"

"If you're lucky," I replied, with a giggle. He laughed in response, knowing that I was as anxious as he was to be home.

"Bella, I love you," he murmured. My heart still warmed whenever he said it and I smiled across at him.

"I love you too."

Et finit! I loved writing this and I am so grateful to those of you that reviewed it or added it as a favourite. Please let me know what you thought of the finished story; I would love to hear your comments. Thank you again :-)