Disclaimer: Fanfic only, folks – Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.
This is it …
Epilogue
"Everything looks the same."
I grinned down at Bella who was standing at my side surveying the hustle and bustle of the first day of college.
"Look closer," I encouraged.
"I don't … oh wait, that's new," Bella pointed to an outcrop of new buildings in the distance, "and the trees are taller."
"There will be other changes, it's been nearly sixty years after all," I commented as I draped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"Now I can finally get my degree from these guys," Bella nodded with a gleam in her eyes. We had attended many schools and universities over the years, but returning to this one made it special. It still rankled Bella that she had left her degree incomplete but there were after all, other pressing matters to deal with at the time. She had a different name now, but she had enrolled in classes that were near enough to her original course to content her.
"Where are the others?"
"They're getting here soon," I offered. "Alice said she has a surprise for you."
"Any hints?" Bella raised an eyebrow at my answer.
"Not even one," I smiled and kept walking.
Heads were turning as we made our way through the crowd, something Bella was still adapting to. Out of deference to her pleasure at being back on 'home turf' I managed to suppress my territorial growls, instead shooting a few quelling looks at the boys whose thoughts were too speculative. The situation was laughable, or at least it would have been if I had a sense of humour where this particular matter was concerned. Compared to myself and Bella, these boys were infants, eager to prove themselves as men.
I frowned as I considered this. My own level of physical maturity had been frozen at a similar age. My body would be in stasis forever, and I would never attain the kind of physical bulk and presence like Emmett. It was the same for Bella; her hips and breasts would never swell into the lush curves that came with pregnancy and childbirth. It was something that Rosalie would always lament and yet Bella seemed to accept it with grace.
"Just look at them, was I like that?" Bella murmured as a group of young women approached. They were all fluttering around each other, giggling and pretending not to notice the looks from the boys. Their laughter hitched as they drew near, the women parting around us and regrouping in our wake. Admiring comments and hushed giggles followed. Bella wasn't a mind reader but she knew enough to slide her hand into the back pocket of my jeans to cup my backside in a gesture of casual possession. I grinned, pleased to note that Bella wasn't above territorial behaviour herself.
"You were nothing like them," I assured her. Scent notwithstanding, she had been exquisite to me from the day we met. Her quiet assurance and easy manner with people had drawn me into her orbit like a compass pointing to true north. Years of self imposed isolation and social reserve had felt ingrained until I had seen her laugh and smile, and realised that I wanted to come in from the cold. She had kept me warm ever since.
The day progressed as expected, with the usual cycle of collecting schedules and sitting through introductory classes. This time around I was studying medicine. It wouldn't be the first medical degree I'd obtained, but there had been considerable advances since my original studies and I was keen to explore developments. I had also realised I had a deep-seeded desire to work with Carlisle, and the intervening decades of being with Bella had strengthened my control all the more. I would never be able to become complacent about my thirst, but if Carlisle could overcome it for the greater good then so could I.
Bella was waiting in the corridor outside my lecture hall, ducking her head and hugging her books to her chest as two boys tried to engage her in flirtatious conversation. She was leaning against the wall with her back to me, and I paused to watch as she laughed off one of the more outrageously flattering comments the boys had said. I knew she could take care of herself, but the light of interest in their eyes and the lascivious flavour of their thoughts had me moving towards her before I had realised the decision had been made.
"There you are," I murmured as I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her to me, her back flush against my chest.
"Hey," Bella tipped her head back to smile up at me and my smile widened as the mental cacophony faded to silence.
"Oh, so this is-," one of the boys began. The speed at which their flirtatious smiles vanished was comical.
"Correct," Bella nodded once, "it was nice meeting you, maybe I'll see you around sometime."
"Sure," the boys looked at me and then their gaze slid away as they made a rapid escape.
"Did that help, me making things quiet?" Bella turned in my arms so that she could give me a quick kiss.
"Some," I allowed, "although it didn't take a mind reader to see what they were thinking."
"They were a little obvious," Bella laughed quietly as we began walking, holding hands, "I just thought if you couldn't hear it you wouldn't stand there looking like you wanted to rip their heads off."
"Hmmm," I replied noncommittal. Bella hadn't been able to see my expression when she had seen them off, which perhaps was for the best.
"Oh come on, I'm old enough to be their grandmother, and you know I'm not interested," Bella chided.
"I know," I nodded at this and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Although one of them did smell kinda nice," Bella mused, grinning when I tightened my grip.
We walked on discussing our classes as students milled around us. The corridor was busy but as always the crowds parted around us as if my magic. It was something that Bella had nearly stopped noticing.
"I feel like I should have a dorsal fin sticking out the back of my neck," Bella murmured to me sotto voce. "It's like a classic example of fight or flight."
I grinned at her choice of words, mentally taking my smile down a notch when a fellow student flinched in passing.
"So where to next?"
"Alice wants to meet us near the book store, she said she has a surprise."
"The store is still here?" Bella looked at me with a grin of delight.
"After a fashion. You'll see what I mean."
Bella looked at me in confusion but I said nothing more. Alice had relented enough to show me a glimpse of what she had in store for Bella, and I was looking forward to the surprise.
o * o * o* * o
"Oh," Bella walked into the store and stopped short. What had once been filled to bursting with bookshelves was now a very steamlined affair. There were still hardcopy books available, but not in the quantities that Bella had been used to. Instead there were banks of LCD screens with USB ports where students could upload their purchases directly to their iPads.
"You've seen other stores like this," I said as Bella reached out to trail her fingers along one of the bookshelves.
"I know, I guess I knew this place would be no exception but I still hoped that might be something …,"
"Familiar?" Alice piped up, having appeared behind us.
"I should have realised you wouldn't be far away," Bella smiled as she turned and saw her sister. "So what do you have to show me?"
"I made a friend," Alice gave me a quick wink but Bella didn't miss it.
"Alice," she said in a warning tone.
"Want to meet her? She's really nice," Alice went on with an artless smile.
Bella looked at Alice and then myself in turn before sighing with amusement.
"Sure, why not? Neither of you are going tell so I might as well go along with it."
Casting a regretful glance at the store Bella allowed Alice to tow her outside and in the general direction of the parking lot. Alice had been quite specific on where I was to park that morning, going to far as to share me snippets of her vision. I had followed her instructions to the letter.
"Okay, so we're back at the car," Bella said when we were standing beside it. I unlocked the doors and we stowed our bags. Shutting the door with elaborate care Bella leaned against it and folded her arms, arching an inquiring eyebrow at Alice.
"Just wait, it won't be long now," Alice said. She was all but vibrating with eagerness. "Here she comes."
I followed Alice's gaze and saw a pleasant looking brunette making her way across the parking lot.
"Hey, Vanessa!" Alice called, giving a languorous wave.
The young woman looked up at the sound of her name and her face lit up with a smile of recognition.
"Where do you know her from?" Bella asked.
"She's in my design class," Alice said as an aside as Vanessa approached. It had only taken Bella few years of coaxing to convince Alice to venture into the world of fashion and interior design. Our sister had resisted for a surprisingly long time, but once she started peeking at future design trends the temptation had proved impossible to resist.
"Hi, Alice," Vanessa smiled and I saw Bella twitch as an old memory stirred. "How was the rest of your day?"
"Not bad," Alice shrugged, playing the part of student cool to perfection. "This is my brother, Anthony, and Marie."
"It's nice to meet you both," Vanessa dimpled.
"Are you waiting for someone? Can we give you a lift home?"
Bella looked in askance at me, and it was all I could do not to grin.
"Thanks but I'm okay, my grandma is picking me up," Vanessa explained. She turned and surveyed the parking lot as some cars drove past and then looked back at us. "Stick around and say hi if you want, she's really cool."
"I'd like that," Alice nodded. "Vanessa was telling me about her earlier today so I want to see if she lives up to the hype."
"Oh come on," Vanessa laughed, "I didn't talk about her that much."
"No you didn't, but I'm intrigued," Alice giggled. Her excitement levels were growing and I wondered how she was managed to keep a lid on it without … A familiar scent and the scuff of shoes on tarmac had me grinning. Jasper sauntered up to the car with his hands in his pockets.
"Afternoon all," Jasper said with a sedate nod. Alice gave a happy peep and launched herself at him for a hug.
"And here she comes," Vanessa pointed at an approaching car. "Perfect timing Alice."
"Yes it is," Bella replied as she squinted at Alice who widened her eyes in mock innocence.
Vanessa stepped out from the parked cars with a laugh and elaborately waved the approaching car into a nearby vacant spot. The driver smiled and parked the car before opening the door and carefully climbing out. We waited as the older woman carefully brushed down her skirt and turned to face us.
"Hello, darling," she called to Vanessa. Her voice was a little husky with age compared to the higher tones of her youth, but the warmth and affection of her words remained unchanged.
"Grandma," Vanessa walked over and wrapped her up in a hug of greeting, "come and meet some of my friends."
"I'd love to, I … oh," the woman stopped short as she and Bella stared at each other. After a pause she shook her head with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, dear, you just reminded me of someone I used to know."
Bella nodded, struck dumb with surprise. She went to speak but no words came out. Shaking her head she swallowed and tried again.
"I'm … I'm Marie. It's nice to meet you …."
"Please," the older woman said through lips that had gone pale, "call me Angela."
o * o * o* * o
"I can't believe you kept that a secret from me," Bella said when we got home.
"Are you angry?" I had watched her with concern when we had at last piled into the car. Jasper had opted to drive, Alice crowing with success in the passenger seat beside him.
"No, just blindsided. In a good way," Bella amended when she saw my face fall. She stepped towards me and put her arms around my chest, rubbing her cheek against my chest. "She's had a good life. Working as a photojournalist was always her dream. I'm so pleased it all worked out for her."
"She's been happy," I said as I kissed her hair until she lifted her face so that I could attend to the matter properly.
"Has Alice kept watch?"
"Now and then," I said. "Nothing obtrusive, just checking."
"Like she did for the others?"
"Like she did for the others," I confirmed.
"So if anything had happened you would have told me?"
"Of course," I replied, a little stung by the question. "She was a good friend to you, and a good person. We would have done what we could."
Bella held my gaze for a long moment and then sighed and nestled against my chest again. We were standing on the miniscule porch of the cabin as the sky drew dark. A mosquito buzzed hopefully around my head before giving it up as a lost cause, but other than that all else was quiet.
We had only come back here once over the years, and that was when Alice had seen that Charlie was dying. Bella had suffered and raged over the impending loss before Emmett had taken her out for a long afternoon of hunting and Jasper had offered to accompany us on the trip to make sure everyone in the vicinity would be safe.
Our visit had to be carefully negotiated with the Quileute tribe, who bitterly resented our return to the area. They still carried the scars of the James incursion, and Seth still carried a hefty scar across his chest. Fortunately the scar was all that remained, as Victoria had been dispatched, her over-confidence not preparing her for the prospect of a furious wolf pack that was experienced in dealing with our kind. After that they had enjoyed two generations free of shape-shifting, and our presence would disturb what Carlisle called their 'genetic peace'. Fortunately for Bella, Charlie was held in such high regard amongst the tribe that they decided it was an acceptable risk.
Bella had slipped into the palliative care ward of the hospital during the early hours of the morning when Charlie was at his weakest ebb. His system so heavily laced with morphine that it was all he could do to smile at her before slipping way from her grasp forever. Those were dark days after his loss. Bella had shuddered and wept tears that would never come for a long time after that. The only thing that could come anywhere near to coaxing a smile her had been my accounts of my first meeting with him.
"He really sized you up?" Bella had asked yet again.
"If I had really been a twenty-three year old I would have been shaking in my boots," I had sad with a solemn nod.
"If he said you were okay, that was heady praise indeed," Bella smiled, and I recognised it for the accolade that it was.
After our initial incursion the tribe had decided that the damage had been done. The next generation would be shape-shifters, which would account for fifteen years of human life. Time aplenty for us to return to our home and play the part of students once more. We would depart in less than a decade, and then the tribe could continue as before.
Jacob and Bella had sized each other up across the clearing, with a crosswind blowing between them to the relief of everyone present.
"Still a bloodsucker I see," Jacob had greeted.
"Does it smell like wet dog around here?" Bella countered.
To my surprise and relief Jacob had thrown his head back and laughed before gathering Bella up for a hug. He had released her quickly enough, stepping back with a gagging cough. A glance passed between us and he nodded once. He would never look at me with anything even close to friendship, but grudging acceptance was enough.
"Oh please," Bella looked equally pained, "like you smell any better."
Jacob had imprinted on a woman in the tribe and he was now father to a small tribe of his own. His life had moved on too, and it was good. We didn't stay long. The brief conversation was enough for each of them to establish that they were at peace with their decisions and life was good.
Renee had followed Charlie two years later, and we had travelled to the other side of the country so that Bella could farewell her mother. Open hearted and open-minded to the end, Renee had passed thinking that the woman she was talking to in her room at her bedside, was a beautiful fever dream. She had left her mortal life with a smile on her lips, and a devastated daughter pressing kisses to her temple.
o * o * o* * o
"Has Angela really been happy?"
"Perhaps not all the time, but she's had a good life."
It was true. Angela had married and produced children, followed by three grandchildren of whom she was incredibly fond.
She and Bella had stared at each other for a long moment before Angela had offered a smile that had, to Vanessa's astonishment, turned into a delighted giggle.
"The Lord moves in mysterious ways," was all that Angela had said, surprising us all by stepping forward and wrapping Bella up into a tight hug.
"Grandma?" Vanessa had asked.
"Don't mind me, you'll be the same when you're my age," Angela had admonished.
Blinking rapidly, Bella had composed herself before pressing a quick kiss against Angela's papery cheek.
"And she and Ben are still together," Bella marvelled. "That's so great." She thought about this some more and then peered up at me. "Perhaps they were brought together by adversity."
"More than that. Ben had it bad for her from the get-go. As far as he was concerned it was never going to be anyone else."
"Seems to me I know a bit about what that's like," Bella breathed against my skin.
"Really?" I glanced down at her with faux innocence, allowing her to lead me into the cabin towards the bedroom. "Why don't you tell me about it?"
"You know, over the years what with you being a mindreader and all, I've come to realise that perhaps words are over-rated," Bella said.
"I can't read your mind," I argued, standing passively as she unbuttoned my shirt.
"Not unless I let you," Bella countered, sounding smug, "and I think a little mystery is good in a relationship."
"That's all theory to Jasper," I said, prompting a breathless laugh out of Bella as I leaned forward to begin stripping her of clothes as well. Given her efforts to my person it seemed only fair.
"True."
"But getting back to what you were saying-," I reminded her.
"Ah yes," Bella sighed. Naked, she turned and crawled across the expansive bed, lying on her side and beckoning to me with a wave and gentle smile. "Perhaps I should just show you."
And after that, there was no need to say anything at all. No words, no thought, just pure sensation. Our lips met for a kiss, and I lapped at the seam of her mouth until she let me inside, into the rest of our forever.
Fin.
A/N: And it's all over folks. I've loved writing this piece, my very first vampfic that turned into a bit of an epic. Thanks so much for reading, and I hope it has left you satisfied. Feedback is welcome, but not demanded.