AN – Sorry about the delay here, the last few days have been crazy. Here is the next chapter and I will be posting the last chapter later on today.

Enjoy and I do not own!

EPOV

We spent the next twenty four hours together with no interruptions from our family. It was time that we spent getting to know each other again. We were both the same people in theory but there had been so many changes for each of us these past few days.

The main things were the same, her personality, her love for me, she was still just her. It was the other things that blew us away. The way it felt when her fingers touched me. The electricity was still there just immensely stronger. The freedom in just being able to touch her however I wanted was exhilarating. I had lived so long with caution being my main thought that I knew this would take some adjustment. Bella wasn't going to give me much time though. She wanted me to hold her as hard as possible. To feel everything that she had been missing for all those years.

At one moment I caught her just staring at me, a look of wonderment on her face.

"What are you staring at?" I started looking around at what was on the bed behind me.

"I was looking at you silly, how have I missed what you really looked like all of these years?" Her fingers traced every millimeter of my face.

I leaned forward and kissed her lips gently. It would be my goal to personally insure that she experienced everything. She would never feel like she missed anything because of me.

Unfortunately there was one thing we had to get out of the way before we could begin our lives together again. This morning was her funeral and this was one event that she could not experience with me. Due to the minor detail that we had no body we were not holding the service at a funeral home but at a hall. Her parents were understandably distraught. Carlisle and Esme had been more help than I deserved with them. They called them and helped them to cope with their feelings. No parent should ever have to tell their child goodbye. It was unfortunate that so many others were hurt but I had to remind myself that this is what she had always wanted.

She watched silently as I got ready. I quickly put on my black suit and tie since Carlisle would be here soon. We were the only ones attending the funeral. It was so obvious in the others that they hadn't aged. To be honest it would be obvious in me but I was hoping that I would have some leeway if I appeared to be overcome with grief. My sunglasses would be a necessity since my eyes were more red than topaz. I had no choice though. Her parents would never forgive me if I did attend her service and although I never planned on seeing them again it didn't mean that I wanted to make this any harder on them than absolutely necessary.

The sadness evident in her eyes made me want to climb back into bed and just hold her all day long. Hold her until she felt no more pain. This was our last hurdle though, our last obstacle that stood between us and our ability to move on from here. I walked over to here and gave a light kiss on her lips. She held on to me tightly and I had to work to extract myself from her grip.

"I'll be home as soon as I can, I promise. Alice will be here shortly to stay with you okay?" She just nodded still. I was a bit concerned that she hadn't said a word yet but I knew that I had to get ready to face this.

Going over to my dresser I got my sunglasses and made sure that they completely covered the red. Satisfied I grabbed the eye drops that I had purchased for today and headed downstairs with one last look at Bella.

Halfway down the stairs I stopped as I could hear her sobs. I ran back up and held her again.

"Please Bella, please let me know what I can do," she continued to sob. I could hear Alice and Carlisle walk in the door. Jasper was sitting in the car waiting until he could better handle the environment within the house.

Alice came into the room and wrapped her arms around Bella and just let her get it out. I placed one last kiss on her forehead and moved from the room. Her hand reached for me as I pulled away from her and she looked into my eyes.

"Edward, please just let them know that I love them, that I will always love them." Breaking down again she let Alice just hold her. I debated about whether or not I should even go.

"Go, she will be fine. You need to say goodbye for her," I walked quickly aware, not able to watch anymore.

Carlisle was waiting for me downstairs. He just patted me on the back as we headed out to the car. I could hear music blaring from Alice and Jasper's car as Jasper sat there holding his head in his hands. He was powerless to even make a dent in the emotions that were pouring out of Bella.

"Edward," Carlisle looked at me before he started the car. "Don't underestimate how hard this will be. You may not have lost her but all these people know that they will never see her again. Just imagine how you would feel if that was really the case."

I nodded and the mood turned somber in the car. We both were not looking forward to this day. We were the first car in the parking lot and Carlisle popped open the trunk and we took our stuff in and began setting up. Alice had spent the days of Bella's conversion creating elaborate tributes of pictures of her. She had been in contact with Charlie and Renee and had gotten pictures from her childhood also. I knew one day these would be valuable to Bella. As her human memories began to fade she would cherish this look into her past.

We sat and waited, neither of us uttering a word. I could tell the exact moment when Charlie, Renee and Phil pulled into the parking lot. The overwhelming despair in their minds hurt me.

Charlie reached me first when they got into the room and immediately pulled me into a large hug. Tears were streaming down his face as he offered his condolences to me.

"Edward, I'm so sorry you didn't have more time with her. She loved you so much, please always know that," with my speed I managed to use my eye drops so that my tears flowed as freely as his.

"Thank you sir," I hugged him again as he wandered aimlessly and found a seat. He dropped his head down as sobs racked his body.

Renee and Phil both hugged me at the same time. Phil was trying to stay strong for Renee but this was extremely difficult for him. Renee grabbed my face in her hands, "Oh Edward, why? Why? She was so young. I kept waiting for the phone call that she was pregnant, never this." Phil pulled her away from me and guided her to a seat where she was inconsolable.

I sat down in a chair, overcome. What had I done to these people? My selfishness had done this. As if sensing my emotions Carlisle sat down next to me.

"She always understood that she would have to hurt them in order to be happy Edward. Just say goodbye for her and be happy." I nodded and looked around the room as the service began.

Bella would have been surprised at how many people had shown up. We no longer lived in Forks but no one there had forgotten her. Ben, Angela, Mike, Jessica and the Blacks were some of the many who were here to remember her.

She had touched many people in her short life and I knew she would be grateful that so many came to pay their respects. As the service continued the priest asked if anyone would like to share anything about Bella. Charlie went to the podium that was next to the urn that was meant to hold Bella's ashes. A large picture of her from our wedding was next to it. It was one of my favorites of her.

"I'm not sure what to say. I never expected to be in this situation. She was my daughter and she meant more to me than any words can say. I'll always love her. I missed a lot when she was growing up. Those few weeks a year I got to see her were never enough but I cherished them. Then when she decided to move in with me permanently I was thrilled. I figured we would have the time to spend together that we didn't have when she was younger. Then she met Edward and all her time was spent with him but I couldn't blame him, she was special. Plus I could tell how much he loved her, he would watch her when she wasn't looking and I was always amazed at how devoted he was to her. So although her time on this world wasn't nearly enough I at least know that in her last years she was happy and that will help me get through the rough days."

He broke down again as he sat down in his chair. John Black rolled over to him and just gripped his hand tightly, offering him the support he needed.

Everyone else was too overcome with grief to say anything so I took a deep breath and headed up to the front.

"I want to thank everyone for being here today. I know that it would have meant a lot to Bella to know how many people loved her. When I first met Bella for a long time I wouldn't let myself believe that she actually wanted me. I didn't believe that I deserved her. Eventually I had no choice, she could be amazingly persistent when she wanted to be," a few people chuckled at that and I saw that Charlie was smiling slightly as he dabbed his eyes. "The happiest day of my life is when she became my wife and I have cherished every day that we have had together. I couldn't believe that she had agreed to spend eternity with me. These past few months have been difficult. I've never seen Bella so determined, so sure that things would all work out for the best. It killed me to see the amount of pain that she was in. Yet she still thought of others and kept reassuring me that everything would be fine, that she loved me. Even in the end her thoughts were of others. The last words I heard from her was for everyone here today. She wanted me to let everyone know that she loved you. That she will always love you," I used the Visine again as fresh tears took over the audience. "So thank you everyone for sharing her with me. She made my life complete and I can only hope that one day I will be lucky enough to spend eternity with her."

I sat down again and Carlisle held me close as he let me know he was proud of me.

Eventually the room emptied out again and I felt drained. Everyone came and gave me hugs and words of support. I promised to keep in contact with Renee and Charlie, they were worried about me.

Finally Carlisle and I were back in the car and heading back home to my Bella. I couldn't believe that I was ever so stupid as to think I could handle losing her. Thankfully that is something I would never have to worry about again.

Bella was sitting down on the couch waiting for us. As soon as I walked in the door I ran to her and just held her. We sat on the couch together. I kept her in my lap because after the service I couldn't handle her being far away from me. I answered all her questions about it and she took it rather well. Eventually she ran out of questions and just wanted to be held. Even though she couldn't get tired I could tell that she was drained.

Alice, Jasper and Carlisle had said their goodbyes a while ago and so we were alone. The house was covered in darkness. I hadn't even noticed when it turned to night. I suggested that we go for a walk and she nodded.

I held her hand in mine and we walked quietly back to the lake. As we sat down and watched the stars reflected on the lake I wondered what she was thinking. She looked so lost in thought.

"Edward," I turned to her anxiously awaiting what she had to say. "I just wanted to let you know that despite the hurt I have caused if given the chance I would do it all over again. I could never regret anything that let me have you forever." She pulled me to her and kissed me.

As we sat there kissing by the lake I knew that although my decisions weren't always the right ones I had her forever and I would cherish every day of eternity with her.

Not the most uplifting chapter I know but only one more to go. Thanks for reading.