EPILOGUE

It was late June, summer had just started, and the sun was slowly making its way across the sky. I was standing on a chair readjusting some of the garland that was hung around the inside of the tent.

Emmett and Rosalie were getting married today. They wanted a summer wedding, and decided to save money by having the reception at the house in a rented tent. My mom and I had been up all night decorating.

The bachelor and bachelorette parties had been two weeks ago. They decided to have a joint one. It was a good idea until one of Emmett's friends thought it would be funny to hire a stripper. I thought Rosalie was going to be upset, but she sauntered over to Emmett and whispered something in his ear. She was smiling the whole time so I wasn't worried.

The next thing I knew the stripper was gone and no one was any wiser. Out of curiosity I asked Rosalie what she said. She had told Emmett that the stripper could stay, but she would have some competition. Apparently he didn't like the idea of Rosalie taking her clothes off in front of his friends, so he was more than happy to make her leave. I don't think Rosalie would have done it, but he wasn't willing to call her bluff.

We were supposed to be heading to the church soon, but I wanted to make sure everything was just right. I was stretching, trying to straighten a strand of the garland that was just out of my reach. I felt the chair starting to wobble and tried to correct myself, but it was too late, the chair flew out from underneath of me. I let out a startled shriek, and waited to hit the ground, but never did.

Edward was there. He had yanked the chair so that I would fall and he could catch me.

"That wasn't funny, I could have fallen. If you would have messed up my dress Rosalie would have murdered you."

"Well, I guess we'll never know for sure, now will we?"

He sat me on my feet and steadied me.

"You look fantastic." He trailed his fingers along my collar bone.

Rosalie had chosen a light purple, strapless, knee length dress for myself and her sister to wear. She was wearing her hair down, so she requested that we have sleek, high ponytails.

"That tux doesn't look too bad on you either, but keep your hands to yourself. We don't have much time, and I need your help. I can't reach that garland to straighten it out, so can you do it for me?"

He pulled the chair back over and climbed up. Once he had it adjusted he got a strange look on his face.

"What's the matter? It didn't break, did it?"

"No, there's something up here."

"What? My mom and I put up all the decorations. What is it?"

He stepped down off the chair and was looking at something in the palm of his hand. I got closer so I could see it, and noticed that it was shiny. I reached for it, but my hand stopped when I realized what it was.

It was a ring. Scratch that, it was MY ring, but different. Some diamonds had been added to each side of what was once a pear shaped solitaire, set in a platinum band. I pulled my hand back and looked at him, genuinely shocked.

"Now, before you say anything I need to clear up a couple of issues. First of all, don't worry about Rosalie, she's been bugging me to do this for weeks. I told her I would do it soon, but that we wouldn't tell anyone until after they came back from the honeymoon, so they didn't feel like we were trying to steal the spotlight. Second, you have a job now, and even though we don't have a house, it'll be okay. I never told you this, but since I wasn't paying rent I used the money to buy some land just down the road. It actually backs up to your mom's place so we won't have to go far. We can save up for a while and then build a house when we get enough money. Then we can have a small wedding, or a big one, if you want."

"Edward, slow down. You're telling me that you already bought land?"

He looked a little concerned, "Yeah."

"Well that's just... just...great, actually. I already have some money put aside for a house. I got a good bit of money when my dad died, and I've been holding on to it just for that."

He smiled, then got down on one knee.

"Bella, I love you more than I would have ever thought possible. Every day you give me another reason to fall more in love with you. You are the most caring person I have ever met. You never put yourself first, but you will always come first with me. I am ready to start spending the rest of my life taking care of you. I want to fall asleep beside you every night, and wake up with you in my arms every morning until the day I die." He grinned a little, "And to be honest, I'm getting tired of sneaking in and out your window whenever I want to make love to you. Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?"

My breathing had stopped. I hadn't ever heard him speak like that before, and I was awestruck by the absolute sincerity of his words. In my head I was screaming the answer at the top of my lungs, but I couldn't find my voice. I never felt him slip the ring on, but he lifted my hand and kissed it. The ring looked perfect, and the entire moment felt perfect. Some basic instinct caused me to take in a huge gasp of air. That helped to unlock my frozen state.

I was nodding before I could get the words out.

"Yes! Yes, Edward I will marry you! How could I say no to you?"

He stood up and we wrapped our arms around each other. He lifted me up and spun me around. I was a little dizzy, but I couldn't tell if it was from the spinning or being deliriously happy.

He sat me on my feet and kissed me. I didn't want the moment to end. I wanted to stay here with him and just be happy. But I had a best friend that needed me to be there for her.

"We need to go, we're going to be late if we don't leave now."

"I know, maybe I should've asked you before you got ready."

"Well, next time you'll know better."

He pulled back and looked at me seriously, "There'd better not be another next time, Bella."

I laughed at him when I realized what he heard in my teasing. I took his hand and we walked out to his truck. I couldn't stop laughing the whole way to the church, but hoped that I could get it under control.

It was nice having a secret. It was special, and it was sweet. For now it belonged just to us, and that's the way it should have been. I was glad he hadn't tried to copy some cheesy romance novel or movie. It was perfect.

The wedding was beautiful. Rosalie was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. She looked like she stepped off the pages of a magazine. I was still smiling from ear to ear when the ceremony started, but everyone just thought I was happy for the couple. Which I was, but I couldn't help but be a little happy for myself.

I tried to focus on what was happening, but I kept glancing over at Edward. I almost missed my cue to hand her Emmett's ring, but luckily she just laughed.

When we got back to the house, the caterer's were all set up and the DJ was playing some background music. The happy couple showed up a few minutes later and had their first dance.

After dinner, as the best man and the maid of honor, Edward and I had to give toasts. I wrote his for him because he liked being singled out less than I did. He read straight from the paper I had given him, and didn't look up once. It was kind of endearing. I, of course, held back tears the whole way through mine.

Once the cake was cut, my mom pulled me and Emmett to the side.

"Mom, what's the matter?"

"Nothing honey, I just didn't want you two wondering what was going on if you saw me dancing with some strange man. "

I glanced to my right and there was a gentleman standing close by, watching us. My mom reached out to him, and pulled him to stand next to her.

"Emmett, Bella, this is Dr. Carlisle Cullen. We've been seeing each other for a while now, and I just wanted to introduce him to you."

She didn't even give us a chance to speak. She had already taken him by the hand and walked away. She was nervous about it, and it made us laugh.

He was at least nice enough to turn back towards us and wave, and my goodness was he handsome.

The night started winding down and it was almost time for Emmett and Rosalie to leave. They were clearing the dance floor to make room for the bouquet and garter tosses. Edward and I both agreed to stay out of those.

Rosalie walked to the middle of the floor and called for everyone's attention.

"Okay, everyone. I know that traditionally I am supposed to throw my bouquet in to the crowd and give some lucky girl a shot at getting married in the near future. I hate to disappoint you all, but that won't be happening. I already know who is going to be the next person getting married, so I think it's only fitting that I pass this on to her. Bella, come up here."

I could feel my face turning red. I looked at Edward, and he just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say 'I didn't tell her'.

I stood up and walked over to her, trying to whisper so everyone wouldn't hear.

"Rosalie, I'm sorry. I swear I didn't tell anyone. I even left the ring in Edward's truck so no one would see it. I didn't want to intrude on your day." I was talking very fast because I was ashamed.

"I know you didn't tell anyone. I forgive you, by the way, for not telling me. This is what you get for keeping secrets from me, especially one that I knew about before you did."

She turned to face the people that were watching.

"Since Bella here is too nice to try and steal any attention away from me, I will do it for her. Just this afternoon she and Edward got engaged, and this time it looks like it's gonna last. Bella, you have been my best friend forever and it's about time you got your own little bit of happiness."

We were only standing about a foot apart from each other, so she lightly tossed the bouquet at me, and I caught it. I grabbed her and hugged her.

"Thank you Rose. I love you. I promise at my wedding you can tell everyone you're pregnant, even if you're not."

She laughed, "I love you too and I just might hold you to that."

Edward came over and pulled me in to a kiss. Everyone started clapping and I was trying to hide my face with the flowers. After a minute I gave up and took in the moment.

For a moment time seemed to slow down. I could see the faces of the people that meant the most to me and knew that no matter what, I would always have them. No matter how many times I had to reevaluate who I am, or how many times I messed up, they would be there for me.

My mom was crying. Dr. Cullen put his arm around her and I could tell that he loved her already. I hoped that she knew it. I hoped that he let her know it every day.

I looked at Edward and couldn't help but smile even bigger. I had thought that I would never be able to see him again, but here we were, together again and more in love than I would have ever imagined. I thought back to the time right after I realized I made a mistake in breaking up with him. I thought about the endless days of nothing but darkness, hoping that something would put me out of my misery.

In that moment, surrounded by my family and friends, feeling Edwards arms around me, I realized something. I had heard somewhere once that someone described losing a great love as the blackest of all deaths. I knew now that if losing love was the blackest of any death, then a lost love regained was the brightest of any existence.

A/N So that's it. Thanks for schlepping through it. As I said I wrote this with other characters some time ago, and it's easy to see that since this little ditty was completed, my writing skills have greatly improved. I know this is far from good, but it serves to remind me how far I've come, so I will always love it for that. There are several places that the story was too rushed, some that were too slow, and some plot that needs to be thickened. But, I didn't want to change any of it. It was my first baby, and I will always love it no matter what. Hopefully you will get some better material from me in the near future. I have several ideas for some one shots, and who knows? Maybe one will blossom in to a much better multi-chapter fic. Love to all of you that read (though none of you reviewed, lol, I know you're out there. The story traffic doesn't lie ;) )