Well everyone, the time has come. This is the last chapter for Forever Young. Sorry it took so long for me to post it, but this chapter is a lot longer than the others, and it took a lot of planning to write. I wanted it to be good. I hope all of you enjoyed reading it, and will stick around for the sequal. I should have the first chapter of the sequal up by Monday. The winning title is Restless Heart! Thank you all for voting! I had so much fun writing this story, and I hope you all love the sequal just as much. Thank you to everyone who has written reviews. I enjoyed reading all of them. Thank you to those who have stuck to the story since ch.1, and a special thanks to those who have helped me out when I needed it, you all know who you are!
I fluttered around the house holding as many decorations as I could in my hands as I followed Alice. I couldn't believe the days we had to prepare ourselves for this were gone. This was it, June had arrived before we realized Christmas had passed. With Jacob back things seemed to move more smoothly, and the days all molded together. I don't think there was a single second my daughter has stopped smiling. And because of that I don't think there has been a single second since I stopped smiling. Everything has fallen into place too perfectly these passed few months.
"Bella, get your head out of the clouds!" Alice called to me. I ducked out of the way as she chucked a glass bowl at my head.
"Not my good china!" Esme yelled, catching the bowl behind me.
"Well tell Bella to pay attention. I don't have time for slackers." Alice walked behind me and pushed me forward. Esme rolled her eyes laughing.
Just then there was a huge clatter that came from the kitchen, and 2 tiny giggling girls. "What are you doing?!" Esme yelled. I glanced over at Rosalie tying a bow around some flowers. We both dropped what we were doing and raced towards the kitchen. I rounded the corner first, and Renesmee and Alyssa were both tangled in each other on the floor. Both covered in flour. Their hands covered in batter.
"Making cookies." Renesmee said licking the batter off her fingers.
"You do realize you cook them in the oven and not on the floor, right?" Esme asked looking around at the kitchen. Eggs were dripping off the counter, the milk was all over the floor, flour coated the entire kitchen, and in the middle of it all sat Renesmee and Alyssa licking their fingers clean. Rosalie and I covered our mouths to keep from laughing.
"Yes, but you see, Alyssa wanted to mix, and I wanted to mix. The bowl went flying and so did we." Renesmee stood up and shook her head. A white puff of flour surrounded her.
"Then Nessie stepped on my foot and I dropped the milk." Alyssa smiled innocently.
"But Alyssa pushed me and I dropped the eggs." Renesmee was still concentrating on the batter on her fingers. Alyssa reached over and grabbed a hand full of flour throwing it at Renesmee. "What was that for?" Renesmee screeched.
"I felt like it. You wont be around to fight with anymore, so I figured I'd get it all out now." Alyssa smirked.
"Bella stop them! They're all dirty!" Rosalie pushed me into the kitchen. I narrowed my eyes and reached for the chocolate that was now melted in a bowl. "Bella, put down the chocolate! Stop them before they get even more disgusting!" Rosalie pleaded.
"You mean like this?" I asked stepping behind both girls. They looked up when they heard me behind them.
"Don't you dare!" Rosalie and Esme yelled at the same time. I reached down and smeared the chocolate across both Renesmee and Alyssa's faces. They screamed and tried desperately to lick it off. Alice walked into the kitchen as Renesmee clobbered me with a face full of cookie batter.
"What's all the commotion in here?" Edward asked as he walked into the kitchen with Jacob, Jasper, and Emmett.
"We heard you from all the way outside." Jacob said, and burst into laughter at Alice, Renesmee, Alyssa and I on the floor covered in anything we could have gotten our hands on.
"If I liked food, this would be extremely sexy." Edward chuckled.
"Took the words right out of my mouth." Jasper laughed.
That's when I realized Alice and I ended up the ones frozen with both our hands on each other's faces smearing chocolate.
Esme and Rosalie were still in shock at the entrance to the kitchen. When Rosalie turned her back to talk to Emmett, I threw 2 eggs at Jacob because he was closest to her, and I knew he would be the most eager to do it. He knew exactly what I wanted, and turned quickly crushing the eggs over her head. She threw her head back and let out a high pitch scream.
Alice jumped to her feet and slapped Jacob a high five, spraying stuff all over Jacob.
"Not so hot now, huh prom queen." Jacob howled.
"You dim-witted, repulsive, foul smelling dog!" Jacob positioned himself so when Rosalie grabbed a bowl and lunged at Jacob, he ducked at the last possible second, the bowl landing on Esme's head.
"Blondie did it now!" Jacob fell to his knees laughing.
I got up and went to sneak out the kitchen before Esme really started screaming. "Hold it!" Esme called after me.
"Looks like your bride is going to get her head handed to her." Emmett told Edward.
"Nope." Edward chuckled. I didn't want to know what he heard in Esme's thoughts.
I turned slowly to look at Esme. "You started this." She said wagging a finger at me.
"No I didn't! They did!" I pointed to Renesmee and Alyssa sitting in the corner laughing.
I caught Esme take a quick step towards me, grabbing the bowl full of eggs. I turned quickly to dash out the door, but Emmett and Jacob stood in my way. Esme caught my arm and the bowl landed on my head.
"There, much better now." Esme laughed. "Now go clean yourself up, and then clean up your child." She turned to Edward, Jacob and Jasper. "You guys clean up the kitchen, Emmett clean up Alyssa." Then she looked at Rosalie and Alice who were already cleaned off. "Finish setting up for the party."
"What are you going to do?" Jacob asked poking at the yolk of an egg that didn't break.
"Finish baking these cookies I started mixing, that my lovely granddaughters very nicely tried helping me bake."
"Sounds good, Mamma fang." Jacob chuckled at his newly found nickname. Although he always had the most respect for Esme, he couldn't help but tease her every so often.
"Jacob, I'll let Rosalie feed you tonight." Esme smirked at him.
"I'll be good." Jacob said quickly.
"That's what I thought." Esme winked at him. I laughed and took Renesmee's hand.
"Come on I'll have to spray you off with the hose outside."
"What do I look like, a dog?" Renesmee shrieked. "No offense Jakey!" She called over her shoulder. Then covered her mouth as she giggled at her own little joke.
"I'll get you back for that later!" Jacob called back.
"Ok, close your eyes and hold out your arms." I told her as I stood in front of her holding the hose in my hand. Renesmee sighed, but did as I asked. I squeezed the trigger and water shot out at her. She jumped from the sudden stream of water hitting her, and screamed from the coldness.
"Am I don't yet?" She asked shivering.
"Almost, turn around so I can get your back." I hurried up so she can get out of the cold water. When she was done I flipped my hair over and got all the eggs out along with everything else that was matted in my hair. Emmett came up behind me holding Alyssa out in front of him like he was holding something that was going to blow up if he moved it close to him.
"Done yet?" He asked when I flipped my hair back behind me.
"It's all yours." I said, handing him the hose. I picked up Renesmee, she shivered once again as the cold of my skin touched her. Even though it was a fairly warm day out, I knew the water from the hose was freezing. "Jacob can you hold her while I go grab her a towel?" I asked when I walked into the house. I quickly handed her to Jacob and he held her close to his chest. She immediately relaxed, and Jacob followed me upstairs. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before taking her back into my arms. "Thanks Jake." I said before pushing him out of the room so I could get Renesmee changed.
I dressed her in a black and yellow flowered sundress, and sent her back downstairs so I could get changed and ready for the party. "Bella!" Alice called out as she walked into my room. She walked into my closet and placed her hands on her hips.
"Alice, I think you forgot your shirt." I pointed out as I pulled my own shirt over my head.
"I know, no one is coming upstairs for another 5 minutes." Alice shifted impatiently.
"Are you going to tell me why your standing in my closet in your bra?" I asked trying to figure out what was so important that she couldn't wait to tell me until she was dressed.
Alice looked down and mumbled, "I need to borrow one of your shirts." She said very low.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked pretending that I didn't hear her.
"You heard me!" Alice snapped at me.
"No I didn't." I fought back a smile.
"Come on Bella, this is humiliating enough." Alice covered her face with her hands.
"Say it louder." I placed my hands on her shoulders shaking her.
Alice ground her teeth, "Bella, can I please borrow one of your shirts." She said low enough that I could hear her, but no one downstairs could.
"Why, yes Alice you can borrow one of my shirts." I said loud enough where anyone inside could hear me. Alice clapped her hand over my mouth and pressed me against the wall full of Edwards shirts.
"Keep it quiet! I don't want people to know I had to sink so low to ask you to borrow your clothes! I have a reputation to protect!" Alice hissed.
"Which one do you want." I said laughing.
"The red lace cami. The one that has the molded bra in it and the see through lace around the torso." Alice whispered.
"Sure Alice!" I said louder, and turned around to go find the tank she was looking for.
"I'm really not going to miss you." Alice smirked.
"You know you are." I said handing her the shirt.
"Ok, maybe your right, but thanks for the shirt." Alice quickly took her bra off and dropped it to the floor, pulling the cami over her head.
"Everyone decent?" Edward asked knocking on the door.
"Yup." I said as I bent down to slip into my shoes.
"Alice, I didn't think you had it in you." Edward teased her. She growled at him. "Although that shirt looks better on Bella."
"I hate you." She said pushing him on her way passed.
"Love you too!" He called after her.
"Did that just happen?" I asked, laughing.
"Yes, and yes everyone heard you downstairs. Emmett's waiting to give it to her."
"Good, get him off my back for an hour." I rolled my eyes and walked out of the closet.
As the party progressed and the sun set we sat around the many tables that were set up around the yard talking. Everyone was here including both wolf packs, Billy, Rachel, Clair, my father and Sue. Emmett was over at the DJ table setting up another play list for the next few hours. I sat back in my chair soaking in the scene in front of me. Everyone smiling, Edward had my left hand in his lap, tracing circles in my palm as he leaned over the table talking to Charlie and Carlisle. Renesmee was playing volleyball with Clair, Seth, Jacob, Quil, Rachel, Paul, Sam and Emily. I watched them for a little while until I looked over at Sue talking with Esme, The table next to them was Leah holding Jayden, she was sitting a little further from Alice and Rosalie, but the three of them were talking. My family, we were all here, together one last time. I thought back to 6 years to when Edward did everything in his power to keep me away from Jacob, a time when the werewolves and the vampires were enemies. The picture in front of me showed the complete opposite of that memory. Vampires, werewolves, and humans all getting along like we were a complete whole.
"If you would all excuse me, I have something I would like to say." Carlisle stood up and Emmett walked over to him, handing him the microphone. Edward squeezed my hand under the table and I held my breath. Carlisle turned around talking into the microphone. "Where's my angel." Carlisle searched until Renesmee skipped over to him. Everyone laughed quietly, and awed when he bend down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Go sit with your parents for a few minutes please."
"Sure." Renesmee skipped over to Edward and he pulled her onto his lap before reclaiming my hand.
"I want to take this time to tell all of you how proud I am of these two amazing people sitting in front of me right now. Isabella and Edward Cullen. Two people who prove that love can overpower anything. This woman sitting in front of me, and I do say woman, not girl, this woman has taught me more about life, love, and happiness than anyone else. She's grew into this amazing, strong-willed, brave young woman you all know and love today. From the first time I saw her, in the hospital, but with Bella that was nothing new." He paused as everyone laughed. Charlie looked over at me and winked. "She was this shy little girl, that immediately grasped my son's attention the moment she walked into this town." Carlisle paused as he laughed. "Now I know Edward had a different idea, but that proves my point that their love is stronger than anything else. As I watched this love blossom between these 2 kids, despite the amount of danger that was thrown at them, she has showed me tremendous courage despite the stuff that was thrown at her during her time as a mortal. Even with her knowledge of our world, she fought with my son day in and day out to become like one of us. My son, being the wonderful man he has grown to be, did everything in his power to keep her soul right where it was. Pure and innocent. The day I took this woman into my family as my daughter-in-law I knew our family was now complete. You filled the hole we've been walking around with for many, many years. I thank you for that. But because Bella had to keep on amazing us, she gave her last breath to keep this amazing little girl alive inside her, long enough for her to make it in this world on her own. Bella fought for a month meeting any need possible to keep her baby alive. Bella gives new meaning to a mother giving her life to protect her child. In more ways than one. We, as in every wolf here tonight, every vampire sitting around this yard, plus many more, we are all still alive today because of my daughter-in-law. That day our young Bella all of you see in front of you, turned into a woman, her strength, dedication to protect her family overpowered all of us put together. She's the one that brought enemies together." Carlisle walked over and placed his arm over Sam's shoulders. "But if it wasn't for the little miracle she named Renesmee Carlie, our treaty as enemies would still be in tack today. As if Bella didn't bring the wolves and vampires together, her own daughter brought us even closer. Son, my first son, take a look at the beautiful family you have created." I looked down at my hand in Edwards when I felt his eyes on me. Edward squeezed my hand, leaned forward kissing the back of Renesmee's head, and then looked back up at Carlisle. Carlisle turned his attention to Jacob. "I thank you for making the decision to let Edward save his young bride. I understand that took great strength for you to agree to something like that. You're a good man, Jacob, and a great leader." Carlisle took a deep breath. I glanced over at my father who swiped his hand under his eyes to wipe a tear away quickly. "Bella, Edward I wish you luck and happiness as you venture off on your own journey. But always remember you have a place to come home to when your ready. Go be the family, a family both of you fought so hard for. You deserve it. Always remember who you are, and where you came from. I want you to know that at any time you feel necessary, you can come home. We will all miss you, but this is something you need to do. Go raise your daughter as your own, I don't have a doubt in my mind that you can't do it. That's all I have to say, everyone please enjoy the rest of the party." The yard was silent for a single heartbeat, then everyone erupted into applause and whistles. Edward leaned over to kiss me. Renesmee crawled off Edwards lap and across to table towards Carlisle. He took her in his arms and whispered something in her ear. She smiled and nodded.
"Thanks dad." Edward said when Carlisle walked over to us.
"I meant every word, son." Carlisle leaned over and kissed my forehead before turning back to Edward. "Take care of them. I know you will, but I just have to say it."
"Both my girls will be well taken care of." Edward said as Renesmee reached for him.
"We're really doing this?" Renesmee asked both of us. Edward looked over at me, and I leaned forward, kissing her cheek.
"Yes we are." I smiled.
Renesmee sighed heavily and looked over at Jacob talking to Paul and Rachel. "I'm ok with it." She sighed reached over to hug me.
"Thank you." I sighed.
The party slowly came to an end as everyone said their goodbyes to Edward and I. Renesmee was passed back and forth to whoever could get their hands on her. She had fallen asleep in Edwards arms and the trade offs didn't wake her. Charlie handed Renesmee back to Edward and he stood in front of me.
"Thank you." Charlie choked on his words.
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"Giving me a chance to know my granddaughter. For keeping me in your life, for giving me enough time to prepare myself to say goodbye to you."
"Dad, we're not leaving forever."
"I know, but you are leaving. Be safe, all of you." Charlie pulled me in to hug him.
"I'll make sure of that." Edward said confidently.
"I know you will." Charlie nodded. "Call when you get there, and call when you get unpacked, then call when…"
"Dad, we will." I laughed.
"Ok. Well kiddo, goodbye."
"Not goodbye, never goodbye. See you later." I did my best to smile. Charlie hugged me again and walked towards the car where his own family waited.
"Hey!" Jacob called out as we turned to walk in the house. Edward and I turned to look at him. "Have a safe trip, and hurry back to us." I stepped towards Jacob and he crushed me against him.
"You know we will."
"Bring her back to me." Jacob whispered in my ear.
"When it's time." I whispered back. He let me go and nodded.
"May I?" He asked Edward. He held his arms out and Edward handed Renesmee to him.
"Hey, munchkin." Jacob whispered, careful not to wake her up. "I'll miss you everyday you're gone." He kissed her forehead and both her cheeks before handing her back to Edward. Jacob stared at Edward for a split second before Edward grunted, but nodded. Jacob quickly pulled something out of his pocket and fastened it around her neck.
"What did you give her?" I asked trying to look around him.
"Same thing I gave you." Jacob grabbed my left wrist and held it up flicking the wolf carving that still hung right where he placed it.
"Now, I know this time Edward wont place a huge diamond around her neck to overshadow my gift." Jacob chuckled as he flicked the diamond heart dangling besides the wooden wolf.
"I'm going to let that one go." Edward said softly.
"Thanks leech." Jacob punched his arm. "See you around, I guess." Jacob said and turned to walk away.
We walked towards the house, the three of us ready to face our new life together. All of us forever loved, forever together, and forever young.