Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I only do this for fun. –B

Epilogue
(Edward's POV)

I helped Bella into my car, being very careful of the wisps of silk and chiffon, the flowers I'd just pinned into her elaborately styled curls, and her bulky walking cast. I ignored the angry set of her mouth.

When I had her settled, I got in the driver's seat and headed back out the long, narrow drive.

"At what point exactly are you going to tell me what's going on?" She asked grumpily. She really hated surprises and I knew it.

"I'm shocked that you haven't figured it out yet." I threw a mocking smile in her direction, and her breath caught in her throat.

"I did mention that you looked very nice, didn't I?" She verified.

"Yes." I grinned again. It was obvious that the fact that I was wearing a tuxedo made her very nervous.

But not quite as nervous as the dress that she was wearing. Or the shoe. Only one shoe, as her other foot was still securely encased in plaster. But the stiletto heel, held on only by satin ribbons, certainly wasn't going to help her as she tried to hobble around.

"I'm not coming over anymore if Alice is going to treat me like a Guinea Pig Barbie when I do," she griped.

She spent the better part of the day in Alice's staggeringly vast bathroom, a helpless victim as she played hairdresser and cosmetician.

Whenever she would fidget or complain, Alice would remind her that she didn't have any memories of being human, and asked her not to ruin her vicarious fun. Then she'd dress her in some of the most ridiculous dresses – deep blue, frilly and off the shoulders, with French tags – a dress more suitable for a runway than Forks. I must admit that in the end she did a wonderful job on her and even Bella couldn't believe that it was really her that she was looking at in the mirror. Of course, I only learned all of this from Alice and Lilly's thoughts, who had offered her opinion on each dress due to Alice's insistence.

My thoughts were interrupted by my cell phone ringing. I pulled my cell phone from a pocket inside my jacket, looking briefly at the caller ID before answering.

"Hello, Charlie," I said warily.

"Charlie?" Bella frowned.

Charlie had been… difficult since our return to Forks. He had compartmentalized Bella's bad experience into two defined reactions. Toward Carlisle he was almost worshipfully grateful. On the other hand, he was stubbornly convinced that I was at fault – because, if not for me, she wouldn't have left home in the first place. And I was far from disagreeing with him.

These days he had set rules that hadn't existed before: curfews… visiting hours.

"Hey, Edward." Charlie greeted me. "Listen, I'll get right to the point. Tyler Crowley came by saying that he is Bella's prom date and that he was here to pick up Bella to take her to the prom."

"You're kidding!" I laughed.

"What is it?" Bella demanded, but I ignored her in favor of Charlie.

"Yeah, he's here right now."

"Why don't you let me talk to him?" I suggested with evident pleasure. I waited a few seconds and I could hear Charlie hand off the phone to Tyler.

"Uh, hello?" Tyler asked with his voice full of confusion and suspicion.

"Hello, Tyler, this is Edward Cullen." I greeted him with the friendliest voice that I could muster under the circumstances and tried to keep the humor and amusement out of my voice. Though I could not hold back the soft edge of menace.

I could tell that Bella had figured out what Tyler was doing there as she began to look down at her dress again as she played with the hem.

"Um, h-hey Edward. I-is Bella with you?" He stuttered out. I could hear Charlie chuckling in the background through the phone.

"I'm sorry if there's been some kind of miscommunication, but Bella is unavailable tonight." I told him.

"Oh, damn. Well, maybe another night then." He said with an air of cockiness in his voice. I wasn't sure what amped his confidence, but it only managed to piss me off.

"To be perfectly honest, she'll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. And I'm sorry about your evening." The threat in my tone was much more evident and I wasn't sorry at all, regardless of what I said and it was made clear in my tone of voice.

I didn't give him a chance to reply as I snapped the phone shut with a huge smirk on my face.

I looked at Bella in surprise when I noticed that her face and neck were flushed crimson with anger and her eyes were starting to fill with rage-induced tears.

"Was that last part a bit too much? I didn't mean to offend you." I apologized but she ignored that.

"You're taking me to the prom!" She yelled.

If I was honest, I was surprised that it took her this long to figure it out. If she had been paying any attention at all, I'm sure she would have noticed the date on the posters that decorated the school buildings. I never imagined that she would react this strongly about this.

I pressed my lips together and my eyes narrowed. "Don't be difficult, Bella."

Her eyes flashed to the window; we were halfway to the school already.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She demanded in horror.

I gestured to my tuxedo. "Honestly, Bella, what did you think we were doing?"

(Bella's POV)

I was mortified. First, because I'd missed the obvious. And also because the vague suspicions – expectations, really – that I'd been forming all day, as Alice tried to transform me into a beauty queen, were so far wide of the mark. My half-fearful hopes seemed very silly now.

I'd guessed there was some kind of occasion brewing. But prom! That was the furthest thing from my mind.

The angry tears rolled over my cheeks. I remembered with dismay that I was very uncharacteristically wearing mascara. I wiped quickly under my eyes to prevent any smudges. My hand was un-blackened when I pulled it away; maybe Alice had known I would need waterproof makeup. "This is completely ridiculous. Why are you crying?" he demanded in frustration.

"Because I'm mad!"

"Bella." He turned the full force of his scorching golden eyes on me.

"What?" I muttered, distracted.

"Humor me," he insisted.

His eyes were melting all my fury. It was impossible to fight with him when he cheated like that. I gave in with porr grace.

"Fine," I pouted, unable to glare as effectively as I would have liked. "I'll go quietly. But you'll see. I'm way overdue for more bad luck. I'll probably break my other leg. Look at this shoe! It's a death trap!" I held out my good leg as evidence.

"Hmmm." He stared at my leg longer than was necessary. "Remind me to thank Alice for that tonight."

"Alice is going to be there?" That comforted me slightly.

"And Lilly with Jasper, and Emmett… and Rosalie," he admitted.

The feeling of comfort disappeared. There had been no progress with Rosalie, though I was on quite good terms with her sometimes-husband. Emmett enjoyed having me around – he thought my bizarre human reactions were hilarious… or maybe it was just the fact that I fell down a lot that he found so funny. Rosalie acted as if I didn't exist.

I was just thankful that Lilly was going to be there, my best friend. No wonder she was so reluctant to help Alice get me ready today. She knew that I wasn't going to like any of this.

Though Jasper forgave me for the incident in Phoenix, he still hasn't warmed up to me any. He was polite enough and greeted me when he saw me and said good-bye when I left, but other than that, he didn't go out of his way to talk to me and never spoke to me unless I spoke to him first. He usually stayed away from me if Lilly wasn't around and when she was, he was completely immersed in her. It amazed me sometimes how strong their bond was and how they could look at each other and have a conversation with their eyes.

I shook my head to dispel the direction my thoughts had taken, and I thought of something else.

"Is Charlie in on this?" I asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Of course," He grinned, and then chuckled. "Apparently Tyler wasn't, though."

I gritted my teeth.

How Tyler could be so delusional, I couldn't imagine. At school, where Charlie couldn't interfere, Edward and I were inseparable – except for those rare sunny days.

We were at the school now; Rosalie's red convertible was conspicuous as it was parked in the parking lot next to Jasper's Viper. The clouds were thin today, a few streaks of sunlight escaping through far away in the west.

He got out and walked around the car to open my door. He held out his hand.

I sat stubbornly in my seat, arms folded, feeling a secret twinge of smugness. The lot was crowded with people in formal dress: witnesses. He couldn't remove me forcibly from the car as he might have if we'd been alone.

He sighed. "When someone wants to kill you, you're brave as a lion – and then when someone mentions dancing…" He shook his head.

I gulped. Dancing.

"Bella, I won't let anything hurt you – not even yourself and I'm sure Lilly and Alice would do the same. I won't let go of you once unless you want me to, I promise."

I thought about that and suddenly felt much better. He could see that in my face.

"There, now," he said gently, "it won't be so bad." He leaned down and wrapped one arm around my waist. I took his other hand and let him lift me from the car.

He kept his arm tightly around me, supporting me as I limped toward the school.

In Phoenix, they held proms in hotel ballrooms. This dance was in the gym, of course. It was probably the only room in town big enough for a dance. When we got inside, I giggled. There were actually balloon arches and twisted garlands of pastel crepe paper festooning the walls.

"This looks like a horror movie waiting to happen," I snickered.

"Well," he muttered as we slowly approached the ticket table – he was carrying most of my weight, but I still have to shuffle and wobble my feet forward – "there are more than enough vampires present."

I looked at the dance floor; a wide gap had formed in the center of the floor, where two couples whirled gracefully. The other dancers pressed to the sides of the room to give them space – no one wanted to stand in contrast with such radiance.

Emmett and Jasper were intimidating and flawless in classic tuxedos. Lilly was stunning in a robin's egg blue halter that matched Jasper's tie and vest and made her skin almost glow. The back of her dress was backless all the way down to just above her rear while the V cut neckline plunged to her waist. It was tightly fitted to her body and ended mid-thigh, but there was mesh laid tightly on top of it that fell all the way down to her ankles with rhinestones littered all over the place. Her hair was done half down half up with loose strands of curls falling down her back. Rhinestones matching the ones on her dress were scattered through her hair making her whole body sparkle. It was almost a sin how beautiful she was. She was beyond belief. She was the type of girl who makes every girl envious and jealous with their self-esteem in question while every guy wipes up their drool. I pitied every girl in the room, myself included. Not even Edward's vane, blond sister matches up to her and that is saying something.

Speaking of Rosalie, she was beautiful with her vivid scarlet dress. It was backless, tight to her calves where it flared into a wide ruffled train, with a neckline that stopped in the middle of her breasts. All of her blond hair was pulled back off of her neck with several strands falling down, framing her gorgeous round face. Alice was striking in a red satin dress with geometric cutouts that bared large triangles of her snowy white skin. It was covered in glitter and when the lights hit it, it looked like pixie dust. It was spaghetti strapped that squared off right above her breasts. Her hair was parted on the side and pinned up on the right side. She had her short spikes gelled with glitter sprayed all over the place matching her dress.

"Do you want me to bolt the doors so you can massacre the unsuspecting townsfolk?" I whispered conspiratorially.

"And where do you fit into that scheme?" He glared.

"Oh, I'm with the vampires, of course."

He smiled reluctantly. "Anything to get out of dancing."

"Anything."

He bought our tickets, and then turned me toward the dance floor. I cringed against his arm and dragged my feet.

"I've got all night," he warned.

Eventually he towed me out to where his family was twirling elegantly – if a style totally unsuitable to the present time and music. Jasper was effortlessly twirling and tossing Lilly around with huge smiles on the both of their faces, as Emmett and Rose danced almost like a fast version of a waltz. Alice appeared to be dancing with a senior that I've seen talking to Lilly before that Jasper didn't appear to like. I think his name is Matt Reaper from their Chemistry class. It was obvious that she was leading him, but he didn't have a problem following. I watched the three couples in horror.

"Edward." My throat was so dry I could only manage a whisper. "I honestly can't dance!" I could feel the panic bubbling up inside my chest.

"Don't worry, silly," he whispered back. "I can." He put may arms around his neck and lifted me to slide his feet under mine.

And then we were whirling, too.

"I feel like I'm five years old," I laughed after a few minutes of effortless waltzing.

"You don't look five," he murmured, pulling me closer for a second, so that my feet were briefly a foot from the ground.

Lilly caught my eye on a turn and smiled in encouragement – I smiled back. I was surprised to realize that I was actually enjoying myself…a little.

"Okay, this isn't half bad," I admitted.

But Edward was staring toward the doors, and his face was angry.

"What is it?" I wondered aloud. I followed his gaze, disoriented by the spinning but finally I could see what was bothering him.

Jacob Black, not in a tux, but in a long-sleeved white shirt and tie, his hair smoothed back into his usual ponytail, was crossing the floor toward us. Behind him was another guy that was standing near the entrance of the gym, leaning against the wall. I knew he came with Jacob because I saw him around the reservation once or twice. He looked a few years older than him with short, spikey black hair. He was huge and it was obvious that he was well built by the way his muscles rippled under his collared black shirt and pants. I noticed that he was looking at something behind me. I was almost positive that his name was Paul something. He must have been the one who had drove Jacob here.

I followed his gaze and noticed that he was watching Lilly as she was dancing with Jasper. He didn't look too happy, but he didn't look like he was about to interfere either. It was clear as day that he was interested in her. Then again, what guy wasn't interested in my amazing best friend?

After the first shock of recognition, I couldn't help but feel bad for Jacob. He was clearly uncomfortable – excruciatingly so. His face was apologetic as his eyes met mine.

Edward snarled very quietly.

"Behave!" I hissed.

Edward's voice was scathing. "He wants to chat with you."

Jacob reached us then, the embarrassment and apology even more evident on his face.

"Hey, Bella, I was hoping you would be here." Jacob sounded like he'd been hoping the exact opposite. But his smile was just as warm as ever.

"Hi, Jacob." I smiled back. "What's up?"

"Can I cut in?" he asked tentatively, glancing at Edward for the first time. I was shocked to notice that Jacob didn't have to look up. He must have grown half a foot since the first time I'd seen him.

Edward's face was composed, his expression blank. His only answer was to set me carefully on my feet, and take a step back.

"Thanks," Jacob said amiably.

Edward just nodded, looking at me intently before he turned to walk away.

Jacob put his hands on my waist, and I reached up to put my hands on his shoulders.

"Wow, Jake, how tall are you now?"

He was smug. "Six-two."

We weren't really dancing – my leg made that impossible. Instead we swayed awkwardly from side to side without moving our feet. It was just as well; the recent growth spurt had left him looking gangly and uncoordinated, he was probably no better a dancer than I was.

"So, how did you end up here tonight?" I asked without true curiosity. Considering Edward's reaction, I could guess.

"Can you believe my dad paid me twenty bucks to come to your prom?" he admitted, slightly ashamed.

"Yes, I can," I muttered. "Well, I hope you're enjoying yourself, at least. Seen anything you like?" I teased, nodding toward a group of girls lined up against the wall like pastel confections.

"Yeah," he sighed. "But she's taken."

He glanced down to meet my curious gaze for just a second – then we both looked away, embarrassed.

"It seems like you're not the only one in that position." I said nodding toward his friend who was still by the door.

He turned his head around and looked to see that he was still in the same position since the last time I saw him, hypnotized by Lilly in her beautiful prom attire. Except this time there were several girls around him, almost hanging on him, trying to get his attention. But he wasn't paying them any mind. He did not break his unwavering gaze from Lilly's smiling form.

Jacob followed his line of sight to Lilly and let out a long sigh.

"I've heard gossip from a couple of friends that Paul has it bad for her, but she already has a boyfriend. I'm assuming that's him, right?" He asked nodding towards Jasper who had clearly noticed Paul as he kept looking off in his direction once in a while. Lilly must have told him to leave him alone, because I couldn't picture Jasper letting another man slide for looking at Lilly the way that he was.

I nodded, confirming Jacob's assumption. "Yeah, that's Jasper."

"From what I was told, she has always been incredibly nice to everyone that she had met when he first met her and Paul was immediately smitten with her." He told me.

"Well, that's Lilly for ya." I shrugged with a smile.

"Yeah, I know." He nodded. "I knew that if I told him that she was going to be there that he would jump at the chance to drive me down here."

I nodded in return and a few moments later he spoke again.

"You look really pretty, by the way," he added shyly.

"Um, thanks. So why did Billy pay you to come here?" I asked quickly to get the attention off of me, though I already knew the answer.

Jacob didn't seem grateful for the subject change; he looked away, uncomfortable again. "He said it was a 'safe' place to talk to you. I swear the old man is losing his mind."

I joined in his laughter weakly.

"Anyway, he said that if I told you something, he would get me that master cylinder I need," he confessed with a sheepish grin.

"Tell me, then. I want you to get your car finished." I grinned back. At least Jacob didn't believe any of this. It made the situation a bit easier. Against the wall, Edward was watching my face, his own face expressionless. I saw a sophomore in a pink dress eyeing him with a timid speculation, but he didn't seem to be aware of her.

Jacob looked away again, ashamed. "Don't get mad, okay?"

"There's no way I'll be mad at you, Jacob," I assured him. "I won't even be mad at Billy. Just say what you have to."

"Well – this is so stupid, I'm sorry, Bella – he wants you to break up with your boyfriend. He asked me to tell you 'please.'" He shook his head in disgust.

"He's still superstitious, eh?"

"Yeah. He was… kind of over the top when you got hurt down in Phoenix. He didn't believe…" Jacob trailed off self-consciously.

My eyes narrowed. "I fell."

"I know that," Jacob said quickly.

"He thinks Edward had something to do with me getting hurt." It wasn't a question, and despite my promise, I was angry.

Jacob wouldn't meet my eyes. We weren't even bothering to sway to the music, though his hands were still on my waist, and mine around his neck.

"Look, Jacob, I know Billy probably won't believe this, but just so you know" – he looked at me now, responding to the new earnestness in my voice – "Edward really did save my life. If it weren't for Edward and his father, I'd be dead."

"I know," he claimed, but he sounded like my sincere words had affected him some. Maybe he'd be able to convince Billy of this much, at least.

"Hey, I'm sorry you had to come do this, Jacob," I apologized. "At any rate, you get your parts, right?"

"Yeah," he muttered, "I'll get a job and save the money myself." I glared at him until he met my gaze. "Just spit it out, Jacob."

"It's so bad."

"I don't care. Tell me," I insisted.

"Okay… but, geez, this sounds bad." He shook his head. "He said to tell you, no, to warn you, that – and this is his plural, not mine" – he lifted one hand from my waist and made little quotation marks in the air – "'We'll be watching.'" He watched warily for my reaction.

It sounded like something from a mafia movie. I laughed out loud.

"Sorry you had to do this, Jake," I snickered.

"I don't mind that much." He grinned in relief. His eyes were appraising as they raked quickly over my dress. "So, should I tell him you said to butt the hell out?" he asked hopefully.

"No," I sighed. "Tell him I said thanks. I know he means well."

The song ended, and I dropped my arms.

His hands hesitated at my waist, and he glanced at my bum leg. "Do you want to dance again? Or can I help you get somewhere?"

Edward answered for me. "That's alright, Jacob. I'll take it from here."

Jacob flinched, and stared wide-eyed at Edward, who stood just beside us.

"Hey, I didn't see you there," he mumbled. "I guess I'll see you around, Bella." He stepped back, waving halfheartedly.

I smiled. "Yeah, I'll see you later."

"Sorry," he said again before he turned for the door with Paul trailing after him.

Edward's arms wound around me as the next song started. It was a little up-tempo for slow dancing, but that didn't seem to concern him. I leaned my head against his chest, content.

"Feeling better?" I teased.

"Not really," he said tersely.

"Don't be mad at Billy," I sighed. "He just worries about me for Charlie's sake. It's nothing personal."

"I'm not mad at Billy," he corrected in a clipped voice. "But his son is irritating me."

I pulled back to look at him. His face was very serious.

"Why?"

"First of all, he made me break my promise."

I stared at him in confusion.

He half-smiled. "I promised I wouldn't let go of you tonight," he explained.

"Oh. Well, I forgive you."

"Thanks. But there's something else." He frowned.

I stared up at me and waited patiently for him to answer.

"He called you pretty," He finally continued, his frown deepening. "That's practically an insult, the way you look right now. You're much more than beautiful."

I laughed. "You might be a little biased."

"I don't think that's it. Besides, I have excellent eyesight."

We were twirling again, my feet on his as he held me close.

"So are you going to explain the reason for all of this?" I wondered.

He looked down at me, confused, and I glared meaningfully at the crepe paper.

He considered for a moment, and then changed direction, spinning me through the crowd to the back door of the gym. I caught a glimpse of Jessica and Mike dancing, staring at me curiously. Jessica waved, and I smiled back quickly. Angela was there, too, looking blissfully happy in the arms of little Ben Cheney; she didn't look up from his eyes, a head lower than hers. Lee and Samantha, Lauren, glaring at Lilly with Conner; I could name every face that spiraled past us. And then we were outdoors, in the cool, dim light of a fading sunset.

As soon as we were alone, he swung me up into his arms, and carried me across the dark grounds till he reached the bench beneath the shadow of the madrone trees. He sat there, keeping me cradled against his chest. The moon was already up, visible through the gauzy clouds, and his face glowed pale in the white light. His mouth was hard, his eyes troubled.

"The point?" I prompted softly.

He ignored me, staring up at the moon.

"Twilight, again," he murmured. "Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end."

"Some things don't have to end," I muttered through my teeth, instantly tense.

He sighed.

"I brought you to the prom," he said slowly, finally answering my question, "because I don't want you to miss anything. I don't want my presence to take anything away from you, if I can help it. I want you to be human. I want your life to continue as it would have if I'd died in nineteen-eighteen like I should have."

I shuddered at his words, and then shook my head angrily. "In what strange parallel dimension would I ever have gone to prom of my own free will? If you weren't a thousand times stronger than me, I would never have let you get away with this."

He smiled briefly, but it didn't touch his eyes. "It wasn't so bad, you said so yourself."

"That's because I was with you."

We were quiet for a minute; he stared at the moon as I stared at him. I wished there was some way to explain how very uninterested I was in a normal human life.

"Will you tell me something?" he asked, glancing down at me with a slight smile.

"Don't I always?"

"Just promise you'll tell me," he insisted, grinning.

I knew I was going to regret this almost instantly. "Fine."

"You seemed honestly surprised when you figured out that I was taking you here," he began.

"I was," I interjected.

"Exactly," he agreed. "But you must have had some other theory… I'm curious – what did you think I was dressing you up for?"

Yes, instant regret. I pursed my lips, hesitating. "I don't want to tell you."

"You promised," he objected.

"I know."

"What's the problem?"

I knew he thought it was mere embarrassment holding me back. "I think it will make you mad – or sad."

His brows pulled together over his eyes as he thought that through. "I still want to know. Please?"

I sighed. He waited.

"Well…I assumed it was some kind of… occasion. But I didn't think it would be some trite human thing… prom!" I scoffed.

"Human?" he asked flatly. He'd picked up on that key word.

I looked down at my dress, fidgeting with a stray piece of chiffon. He waited in silence.

"Okay," I confessed in a rush. "So I was hoping that you might have changed your mind… that you were going to change me, after all."

A dozen emotions played across his face. Some I recognized: anger… pain… and then he seemed to collect himself and his expression became amused.

"You thought that would be a black tie occasion, did you?" he teased, touching the lapel of his tuxedo jacket.

I scowled to hide my embarrassment. "I don't know how these things work. To me, at least, it seems more rational than prom does." He was still grinning. "It's not funny," I said.

"No, you're right, it's not," he agreed, his smile fading. "I'd rather treat it as a joke, though, than believe you're serious."

"But I am serious."

He sighed deeply. "I know. And you're really that willing?"

The pain was back in his eyes. I bit my lip and nodded.

"So ready for this to be the end," he murmured, almost to himself, "for this to be the twilight of your life, though your life has barely started. You're ready to give up everything."

"It's not the end, it's the beginning," I disagreed under my breath.

"I'm not worth it," he said sadly.

"Do you remember when you told me that I didn't see myself very clearly?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. "You obviously have the same blindness."

"I know what I am."

"I don't understand how it was so easy for Jasper to change Lilly, but you refuse to even consider it." I murmured.

He looked down at me confused. "What are you talking about? Who said that Jasper changed Lilly?"

I bit my lip. "Well, I always just assumed…" I paused and looked down. "So, if Jasper didn't change her, than how did she become a vampire? Who changed her? Carlisle?"

"Bella," Edward huffed, "there is no way that Jasper would let anyone change Lilly besides himself. Lilly was already a vampire when we first met her; when you first met her. It's up to her to tell you her story and when she does, you will understand."

I sighed and nodded.

But his mercurial mood shifted on me. He pursed his lips, and his eyes were probing. He examined my face for a long moment.

"You're ready now, then?" he asked.

"Um." I gulped. "Yes?"

He smiled, and inclined his head slowly until his cold lips brushed against the skin just under the corner of my jaw.

"Right now?" he whispered, his breath blowing cool on my neck. I shivered involuntarily.

"Yes," I whispered, so my voice wouldn't have the chance to break. If he thought I was bluffing, he was going to be disappointed. I'd already made this decision, and I was so sure. It didn't matter that my body was rigid as a plank, my hands balled into fists, my breathing erratic…

He chuckled darkly, and leaned away. His face did look disappointed.

"You can't really believe that I would give in so easily," he said with a sour edge to his mocking tone.

"A girl can dream."

His eyebrows rose. "Is that what you dream about? Being a monster?"

"Not exactly," I said, frowning at his word choice. Monster, indeed. "Mostly I dream about being with you forever."

His expression changed, softened and saddened by the subtle ache in my voice.

"Bella." His fingers lightly traced the shape of my lips. "I will stay with you – isn't that enough?"

I smiled under his fingertips. "Enough for now."

He frowned at my tenacity. No one was going to surrender tonight. He exhaled, and the sound was practically a growl.

I touched his face. "Look," I said. "I love you more than everything else in the world combined. Isn't that enough?"

"Yes, it is enough," he answered, smiling. "Enough for ever."

And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.

(Lilly's POV)

"Did you hear all of that?" Jasper asked as we walked hand in hand across the courtyard of the school near the gazebo that was filled with lights where Bella and Edward were dancing.

"Yeah," I nodded, "I did."

Jasper had said that he wanted to show me something and pulled me out of the dance. We had made it to the courtyard when we overhead Edward asking Bella what she thought he was going to be doing with her tonight.

"What do you think about it?" He asked as we continued on a path towards the tree line behind the school.

"Well, I can't really relate to any of you guys, because I've always been what I am, even if I didn't know it yet and before my supernatural abilities kicked in. I haven't had to give up John and Anne or go through the newborn frenzy. I can't really give any opinion because I don't know what it's like." I shrugged.

"Why what do you think?" I asked looking up and over at Jasper.

He pursed his lips for a moment before he replied. "I think he should change her."

"You just think that because of me." I snorted and innocently bumped his shoulder laughing. "Don't forget, I was at that family meeting when we discussed the possibility of Bella being changed into one of us. You changed your tune about killing her when you found out that Alice saw her as a vampire."

"Yeah, I know." Jasper chuckled as he pulled me into his side, let go of my hand only to wrap his arm around my shoulders. "But even if that wasn't true, I would think that as long as she understands exactly what she is getting in to and the consequences of her decision that it should be her choice if she wants to be changed or not."

"I agree," I nodded. "but believing the way that Edward does, and knowing how much he loves and cares about Bella, I can understand his reluctance to do so as well."

"That's true and I agree with both sides as well." He nodded as he pulled me to a stop as we broke through the tree line.

I bent down to take my heals off and held them in my left hand as we took off through the forest me following Jasper's lead as the forest blurred around us.

We ran for about a half hour and we stopped about fifty feet from another tree line, somewhere I have never been before.

Jasper came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me from behind and placed a chaste kiss behind my ear.

"Close your eyes," he whispered.

I looked back at him in confusion. He began to chuckle and kissed my forehead, shaking his head in amusement.

"Trust me," he pressed and took my heals out of my hand so that I could cover my eyes. I sighed and silently obeyed Jasper's request.

"Good," he praised me as he placed his hands on my shoulders and carefully guided me forward.

I briefly debated opening my fingers and peering through them to see what I was getting ready to walk in to.

"No peaking!" Jasper chastised.

Damn, he must have felt my emotions shift. I giggled at myself and him and kept my eyes shut under my hands.

I felt it as we broke through the tree line and the soft blades of grass under my feet before I began to feel what felt like a blanket under my feet as he guided me in to what felt like the center of the blanket. He then took his hands off my shoulders and I could hear him moving around walking around me.

"Okay, open your eyes." He whispered.

I opened my eyes and felt my breath catch in my throat.

I was standing on a soft cashmere blanket with dozens of different sized spa candles and twinkling lights surrounding us. There was a wine bottle opened with two glasses sitting on a small stool filled with what smelled like some of the sweetest donated human blood that I had ever smelled.

The spot that we were set up at was at the top of a cliff that overlooked the city of Seattle and the ocean against it. It was the most breath taking view that I had ever seen in person.

But that was not the most amazing part of my view.

Down in front of me on one knee with the most beautiful ring I had ever seen was my Jasper. He was looking at me with so much love, devotion and affection that I could feel my eyes begin to glaze over. Though, underneath all of those emotions, I could almost sense his fear and nervousness at what he was about to do and what my reaction would be.

"Jasper?" I gasped.

"Lilly, from the first time I saw you and your eyes met mine, I knew that we were meant to be together for the rest of eternity. I never had to second guess myself about anything that came to you. You are always the one thing that I knew I am sure about.

"I love you so much that sometimes, I swear that I can feel my heart beating again. You've given me so much and many of those things, I never thought I would ever be lucky enough to have. You are the only one that I can really be myself around and not worry about judgment with or worry that you will love me any less." His voice was shaking and venom was becoming glossy in his eyes as he spoke

"I promise you that I will always be faithful, devoted, loyal, and there for you for as long as I shall live. I promise to love you more and more every day and show you that love in every form that there is as many times that I can.

"You're perfect for me in every way that someone can be matched. So, Lilly Elizabeth McLean…will you do me the extreme honor of saying yes to me tonight and becoming my wife?"

I continued to look in to his eyes as he finished. They were filled with such hope and love and every piece of my soul was screaming at me to thrust myself in to his arms and smash my lips to his. But I knew that I had to answer him first before I could do what my body and heart most craved.

I got down on my knees right against his body. Our faces were only inches apart and I reached up my hand and traced the scar that I had come to love that was right above his left eyebrow.

I leaned in slowly and just before my lips met his I whispered 'yes' and pressed my lips to his.

He wrapped his arms around my frame and pulled me tightly to his body. I could feel him smiling against my lips as we continued to kiss.

Finally after several moments, we pulled away and I looked into his smiling face. I knew that my face mirrored his own and he brought my left hand in-between us in his own and slid the ring on my finger.

"Oh, Jasper." I gasped. "It is so beautiful."

"It was my mother's." He told me. "Before I left for the war, she gave this to me and told me that it was her mother's and that I should give it to the woman that I want to marry."

"Thank you." I choked.

"No, thank you." He grinned and pecked my lips again. "I had it engraved."

"Really? With what?" I asked.

"pour l'éternité" (For Eternity) He told me.

I smiled so wide that my cheeks were beginning to hurt and I nodded.

"pour l'éternité" I agreed and brought his lips back to mine.

A/N: Wow, I can't believe it's finished! As soon as I finish the first chapter of the sequel, I will post an Author's Note telling you what the name of it is and that it is ready to be viewed. I really hope that everyone liked this story. I'll talk to everyone soon!

If anyone has any questions about this story, post them in my reviews and I will answer them in my next Author's note when I give you the Sequel information!

Ali 7/16/12 . chapter 34

I think that Lilly should tell Bella about her past soon.

Lilly will be telling Bella about her past, but not until the fourth book for reasons that you will find out when the time comes!

Check out my other stories!

'Attempting to Covet'
'Dhampir'
'Far Fetched Realities'
'Mirror Image'
'Other Worldly Beauty'
'Perplexing Revelations'
'Pretexting'
'The Heart's Desire' NEW!
'The Major'
'Twilight ReVAMPed'

If you enjoyed this story so far, check out some of my other stories on my FanFiction page! Also, I am still accepting Twilight stories that involve Jasper/any female leads or Bella/selected male leads if anyone is looking for a Beta Reader. I will make exceptions on the characters depending on the plot. I am also now accepting Phantom of the Opera FanFictions that include Erik! I will also be accepting Titanic FanFictions featuring Jack, and Law and Order SVU that feature Elliot. PM me for details!
- Bella'Xo
Xo BellaItalia oX