A year later.
Bella cut the ribbon to a round of applause and cheers. Everyone had gathered for the opening of Paradiso, her very own bakeshop just around the corner of the Cullen Architecture building.
"Congratulations, Bella!" Esme was the first to hug her after pictures were taken. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks so much, Esme," Bella hugged her back. She was happy to see Edward's mother smiling genuinely again; losing Carlisle had taken a much larger toll on her compared to everyone for the first few months, but with everyone rallying around to support her, she slowly became her vibrant self again.
"This is so exciting!" Irina bounced where she stood. "And I can't wait to try all the new cakes! You're going to get me fat, girl."
"Like that can ever happen. Besides, Eric will love you regardless."
"Where is that young man of yours, by the way? Is he still coming?"
"He just left the hospital five minutes ago," Irina checked her watch. "Poor guy's been on the clock since four o'clock this morning. He'll definitely be here, though, so don't worry."
Sometime during Edward's recovery period in the hospital, Irina had run into Dr. Eric Laurent while she was on her way to the gift shop. It was love at first sight, and a while later, they were engaged.
"Oh, and speaking of, we definitely need to talk about the reception catering. I was thinking of something a little more classic, but Eric wants to go for some kind of theme, which sounds pretty gaudy to me, so I figured –"
"Rin," Bella laughed, placing a hand on her friend's arm. "Easy, easy. There's plenty of time to talk about that. Are you available on Wednesday?"
"Right. Sorry. I'm being a little too enthusiastic here," Irina giggled. "And I am available on Wednesday."
"Okay. And it's alright to be excited."
"Getting married's a huge deal," Esme agreed, though her sparkling eyes cut to Bella as she spoke.
"You're right," Irina replied while absently rubbing her engagement ring. "So Bella. Are you and Edward going to do it soon?"
Bella choked on her own spit. "That's…we aren't in a rush or anything."
"But you are going to do it." Irina pressed.
"I…I don't know," Bella sighed. "I mean, he hasn't asked me yet or anything, and I don't want to pressure him –"
"I think he'll come to do it all on his own volition," Esme giggled as Irina smirked at something over Bella's shoulder. "I think I'm going to go try some of the pastries now. Good luck!"
Bella watched as the bubbly girl hooked her arm around her boyfriend's mother, and disappeared from her sight. Chuckling, she turned around, and ran into a solid wall of flesh.
"There you are," Edward murmured into her hair, his arms winding around her waist. "I've been looking all over for you."
"The place isn't that full," Bella laughed. She planted a brief kiss on his lips. "I'm so glad you made it."
"I'm hurt. You really think I would miss one of the biggest days in my girl's life?"
"You were complaining last night about how much work you –"
"You'll always come before work," he kissed her again, deeper this time. Bella responded immediately as Edward's tongue languidly played with hers.
"Wow, grand opening and a show? You guys really went all out."
Edward begrudgingly pulled his lips away from Bella's to glare at Jasper. "Oh, yeah. I forgot I picked up the asshole before coming here."
"Hi, Jas," Bella went over to give him a hug despite the blush still warming her cheeks. "Thank you for coming. You, too, Alice." She embraced the girl as well.
"Thank you for inviting us."
"So this is the place, huh?" Jasper looked around the busy café. "Great job, Bella. Congrats."
"I couldn't have done it without you guys," Bella replied as Edward's arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Go ahead and help yourself to the cakes and stuff. Everything's bite sized so you can try a bit of everything."
"Will do. Thanks again, Bella," Jasper grinned. He reached for Alice's hand, and together, they walked towards the crowd of tables.
"I'm glad he finally had the courage to ask her out," Bella commented as she watched them.
"You mean you're glad he finally grew the balls to tell her how he feels," Edward corrected. That earned him a smack on the chest. "I'm kidding, love. But, yeah, I'm happy, too. He finally looks…alive."
Jasper had expressed to Edward his hesitation to pursue a relationship with Alice. Though he really did have genuine feelings for her, it just felt strange for him to be with someone other than Maria.
Edward had put his agitation at ease by telling him what his former guardian had told him before he returned to life. He knew Maria wanted Jasper to be happy, and if Alice did that for him, then Jasper had her blessing.
It took a while for Jasper to digest that, but three months ago, he finally introduced Alice as his girlfriend. He also accepted Edward's offer to pay for his first semester of photography school, but insisted he could handle everything else on his own.
"So," Edward looked down at Bella. "Where are all these cakes I'm hearing about? I'm starving!"
"Did you skip lunch?" Bella asked as she led the way to the buffet tables.
"Nah, I'm just really hungry," Edward said. "Who knew taking over my dad would be this difficult. I need food to refuel!"
"Well, you are a growing boy and all," she stated dryly.
"Mm, you want to know what part of me's growing?" he aligned their bodies so that she could feel exactly what was rising to the occasion.
"Okay, that's both flattering, and really inappropriate," Bella laughed. "I don't even know what's turning you on right now. I look the same as I do on any other day."
"Don't you know I'll always find you sexy?" Edward nuzzled her neck. "Or do I need to remind you again?"
"There's no need; last night was plenty a reminder," Bella turned around to kiss his cheek. "Feel free to let me know again tonight, though."
"I'll be sure to do that."
A comfortable silence lapsed between the two then as they assembled their plates of food.
"Jacob called again today," Edward said casually.
"Really?" Bella matched his tone.
"Yeah," Edward shrugged slightly.
The phone calls from his former best friend happened sporadically and out of nowhere after he got out of the hospital. At first, they were filled with apologies that Edward chose to ignore. After a while, though, he decided it was time to let go. What was done is done, and Edward was ready to just move on.
He knew they were never going to be as close as they once were, but he was still happy that their relationship was somehow being mended even bit by bit.
"How is he?"
"He's okay. Still in Forks doing some freelance work, and taking care of Lillian."
"That's nice of him."
And it truly was. Edward was shocked when he first heard that Jacob had been visiting Lillian and making sure that she was still alright in Saint Catherine's. With Rosalie staying in prison for the foreseeable future, he had taken it upon himself to care for the elderly lady without any reimbursement.
Rose's capture and eventual incarceration had a bad effect on Lillian. For the first couple of days since Rosalie was brought back to the States, she had been desolate, and returned to not speaking to anyone. Dr. Cheney feared that she would regress completely, but thanks to Jacob's support, she was doing better.
After all, Lillian knew deep inside her daughter that having to return everything she took and serving her time was what she needed to be a better person.
"I think I'm kinda ready to forgive him," Edward told Bella as they sat down at one of the tables. "I know that sounds crazy to some people – and by 'people', I mean Jasper – but I just…I dunno. I feel like with everything right going on in my life, I can't find it in myself to be angry with him anymore."
"That's a good thing," Bella placed her hand on his cheek. "Your heart's too pure to harbour anger, Edward."
Edward took her hand, and kissed her palm. Sometimes he wondered what the hell he did to deserve her in his life.
…
Throughout the afternoon, the festivities continued with people walking in and out of the brand new glass doors. A heavily pregnant Jane even managed to stop by with Felix in tow, but as with the other guests, they didn't get to stay long. By the time twilight arrived, only close friends and family remained.
"Can I have everyone's attention please?" James stood up with a champagne glass in hand. "Thank you. Now, I know I promised Bella that I wouldn't be making any embarrassing speeches today, but since only the VIP's are left, I think I'll get away with one." He winked at Bella before continuing.
"Anyway, I would like to propose a toast to my wonderful niece. Your aunt and I will miss you dearly at Heaven, but we are extremely proud of everything you've accomplished. To Bella!"
"To Bella!" everyone echoed as Bella blushed in her seat.
"Before we continue the feast, I believe there's one more announcement tonight," James smirked. "Edward? The floor's yours, son."
"What?" Bella whispered. "What's this about?"
"Just wait and see," Edward replied with a smile, though his eyes reflected a glint of nervousness. He cleared his throat once he was standing up and facing her.
"Bella," he began. "I…I actually have this whole speech planned out, but I realize now that that doesn't matter. What's important is that I let you know what's really in my heart.
"The past year has been the most insane of my life, but also the happiest because of you. You make everything worthwhile, and I'm so grateful that I've been given the chance to be with you. Now that I finally have you, I'm not letting you go.
"Some people might think we're going fast, but if there's one thing I learned, it's that life's too short to not seize the day and be with the one you love."
Edward took a deep breath as he sunk down to one knee.
"Isabella Swan, love of my existence, words cannot express how much I adore you," he reached into his pocket for a small box. "Will you do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes. Yes, of course I'll marry you," Bella answered loudly to the wild cheers of their audience. She let Edward place the ring on her finger before launching herself at him so that they were both on the ground.
"Thank you, Edward," she whispered against his neck. "You've given me more than I ever dreamed of."
"It's the other way around, love," Edward hugged her tighter. "You gave me my life back."
…
Later that night, after they made love, the newly engaged couple laid naked in their bed as they inspected Bella's new ring. "What do you think?" Edward asked. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," Bella held her hand out proudly. "It's beautiful. And I like how it's so unique. I've never seen a ring like this before. What made you think of going with a clover?"
Truth be told, Edward never really thought of such a design. He had browsed through Tiffany catalogues for the perfect engagement ring for months, but had never found the perfect one until the day he saw a familiar cuff sitting on his dresser.
It confused him at first; the cuff that held his three tears had gone missing once he returned to his body, so how could it just suddenly appear?
The scrap of pink tulle that was underneath it gave him all the answers he needed, and a brilliant idea for Bella's engagement ring.
Since the clovers were apparently made of diamond and not crystal as he had originally presumed, Edward had the first one removed from the crest to be inlaid as the gem of the ring. Of course, more diamonds were added (Edward refused to settle), but the clover was the star of the show.
"It has a special significance," Edward said. "That's the tear you gave me, Bella. My very first one."
"It is?" Bella gasped. Edward had told her what his mission was and how she helped before, and she was shocked to see a physical manifestation of it. "How did you…?"
"A friend allowed me to have it," he kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Bella."
"I love you, too," she snuggled into his chest. "Thank you for coming back to me."
"After those fifty days, there's no other heaven I'd rather be in but here with you."
The End/Ang Katapusan/Das Ende
Thank you all very much for every read, review, favourite, and follow.
If you want to see a side-by-side comparison of the characters from 49 Days, Pure Love, and 50 Days to Heaven, the link is in my profile. You'll also find the two full banners by AstridGreenEyes there.