Well gang, here we are….thoughts at the end. Thanks for being with us through this ride. To say it took unexpected turns and gained a momentum we never expected would be an understatement. Thank you.

Not ours…

Epilogue

The truth shall set you free - B

While things did die down, I quickly came to the realization that I'd never be anonymous again. Between the media frenzy we'd lived through and the simple attention of 'being with the Cullens,' I would always be the one to stand out in the crowd.

Work tried to take advantage of it a few times. They actually attempted to get me to do some joint TV interviews with Jasper to promote his new book, but I drew the line. I was a behind the scenes type of girl. These days I was perfectly happy if the biggest mention was a photo from some charity event.

Renee called about a week after a photo of me ran in Vanity Fair. We'd been at some event raising funds for cancer, where Tanya and I had been captured laughing over glasses of champagne.

"Look at my little girl, hanging out with Russian royalty! Can I expect a Faberge egg for Christmas?" She cooed over the phone.

"What do you want, Renee?" I had given up trying to be civil. It was only a matter of time before she got to the point and made her request.

"I just want some quality time with my little girl! I was thinking about coming to New York this weekend."

Before I could respond, the phone was pulled out of my hand. I looked up just as Edward dropped his briefcase on the floor, and stuffed his free hand in his trench coat pocket, a look of fierce determination on his face.

"Renee, my name is Edward Cullen, and I'd like you to leave my fiancée alone."

I was so surprised to see him that it took a moment to register the shock of his actions.

Edward was quiet, listening to whatever line Renee fed him. I could help but fidget uncomfortably; not only was I worried about her behavior; I was worried at how it would reflect on me.

"Actually, we'll be gone. We have plans this weekend," he answered coolly. I'd heard him use this tone before, and I actually had a momentary flash of empathy for Renee.

She didn't stand a chance.

"No, the only Swan that is getting married in the near future is Bella's father. Shall I pass on your best wishes?"

My eyes must have gone wide; Edward winked and smiled, holding up an index finger to request patience.

"Renee, I am going to make this offer once. I want you to leave us alone, for good. In exchange, I am willing to wire you a ridiculously large sum of money. All I require is that you sign a document agreeing to never speak to the press or other people."

I couldn't make out the words, but the sounds from the phone became louder.

"It doesn't matter how much, it's more than enough. I will have it wired to your bank." He hesitated, listening to whatever she was spewing. "Yes, I know where to have it wired. I know a lot of other things too, Renee. I think I'll send along a small sample so you realize just how serious I am. If you go back on your promise, not only will I have proof of our agreement via legal documents and wire transfer records, I'll have other information that I am sure you don't want to get out Things that will interest the papers and the IRS."

The news that Edward had compiled information shouldn't have surprised me. We'd both been through so much thanks to Jane, that it only made sense.

But the fact that he didn't tell me worried me. How bad was the information he found?

"Do you want it or not Renee?"

Edward waited for a moment before cutting her off. "I'll take that as a yes. The money will be transferred in the morning. You'll also receive a package with just of taste of what I have. If you ever think of showing up here or talking to anyone about Bella, everyone will learn what a wonderful mother you are. Goodbye Renee."

Edward hung up and sat the phone down on the table.

I sat quietly, waiting, afraid of what he might say. We'd been through so much, but this felt like a tipping point so to speak.

"You okay? You look kind of pale." He ran his hand along my cheek, smiling.

"I don't know, am I okay?"

Edward sat down on the couch, not taking his coat off. "I'm sorry about that. After everything happened with Jane, my dad and I talked for a long time, and I came to the realization that I needed to do everything I could to protect you and us. I asked Felix to do some digging around on Renee, just on the off chance that she decided to cause problems."

"Did he find bad stuff?" The question made me sound like I was five, not thirty.

"Do you really want to know?"

I bit my lip, thinking about the question. Did I really want to know? I'd always wondered, always suspected things, but did I want answers?

"Were they as bad as they sounded?"

"Let's just say that she won't be bugging us again."

I blew out a long breath, trying to process everything. I needed a few minutes alone to think before continuing with this conversation.

"Why don't you go change, then we can go grab some dinner. I forgot to order groceries, and there isn't much in the house."

Edward shook his head, mumbling something about organization, and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before heading to our bedroom.

As soon as he left to change clothes, I let myself out onto the terrace. Replaying the entire phone call in my mind, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. It was a piece of closure that we needed, but it still made me sad. I knew that holding out any hope for Renee was naïve, but I couldn't help but wish for what could have been.

"What are you doing out here? It's cold."

I looked back over my shoulder to see Edward standing in the doorway.

"Just decompressing and collecting my thoughts. My emotions are all over the place right now."

He walked over to stand behind me, pulling me in so that he could wrap his arms around me. "How do you feel?"

I took a long breath, watching as the lights began to pop on all over Manhattan. "Sad, but I know that it's for dumb reasons. I'll be okay."

Edward squeezed my shoulders. "It's for the best, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean it still doesn't sting a bit."

"So you don't have her. You've got a ton of other people who love you, and I'm at the front of that line. We'll make up for her not being her."

I smiled and leaned my head back against Edward's shoulder. It was time to put this behind us. There were other, more important things that we need to talk about.

"I had lunch with Tanya today. My guess is that Felix was too busy digging up info on my whack job mother to fill you in on current events." Tanya and I spent as much time together as we could. If I had a sister, I'd like to think she would have been like Tanya. "They closed on the apartment down the street."

"Another one living in sin before marriage? What will become of us all?"

I dropped an elbow in his ribs. "They are being more practical then we were. At least they waited a year. Besides, who said they were living in sin?"

"They bought a place together, and aren't married. I think that counts, Bella."

"Yeah, about that…" Tanya had confided in me about their plans last week, and had called today to give me the green light. "Still have a little bit of a rebel in you? Willing to face some family ire?"

"What are you up to?" I could hear the curiosity in Edward's voice. He might have grown up a lot, but the rebel would always be there. It was a perfect contrast to his type A nature, and made him ridiculously successful at work.

"I'm not up to anything. I'm just going to be a legal witness. I think Tanya and Felix are looking for one more, but they're worried that you've shed so much of your bad boy image that you won't risk pissing off the family."

Next thing I knew, my feet were out from under me, and I was being carried back into the apartment.

"You haven't seen bad boy. And I'm not running the company, so I can still afford to piss off a few people. "

He didn't mean it, the pissing off people thing. But he was legit about not caring what people said. The important ones would stand behind the decisions we made. That was all that mattered.

Changes - E

Dealing with Renee brought me the final level of calm I needed to put everything that happened behind me. Even when things started to die down, knowing she was out there kept me on edge. We would always be potential targets. I accepted that a long time ago, but I couldn't stand the thought that the attack would come from Bella's own mother.

My experience with Jane taught me that no one was a given where trust was concerned. I was much more cautious now, and everything I'd learned about Renee told me that she was not someone in whom I could afford to invest my trust. Bella let that investment ride for years, and there was never a return. Quite the opposite really.

I wasn't completely jaded though. I'd been blessed with friends and family who had never given me a reason to question their loyalty. Like Tanya. She deserved happiness more than anyone I knew, and she had found an amazing partner in Felix. He absolutely adored her.

Bella and I were both so proud to have been a part of their wedding. It was a simple exchange of vows, the same words couples said in ceremonies across the U.S. approximately 6200 times a day. I didn't normally want to hop on the bandwagon, but witnessing my two y closest friends enter into that commitment in the last year had only intensified my desire to say those words myself. It wouldn't matter how big or small the wedding. It wasn't about the day; it was the intention behind the words.

Tanya and Felix's wedding couldn't get any smaller, any more private, but it didn't mean their marriage meant any less to them.

I knew there would be hell to pay from both her family and his for participating in their elopement. And I didn't have to wait long for that wrath.

"Mr. Cullen, do you have a moment? I have something I'd like to discuss."

"Yes, of course. Come on in."

Her tone was more formal than I was used to, and I sensed a hit of ire. I was nervous, as I had a hunch I knew what my assistant was coming to discuss. It wasn't going to be pretty.

I had a new assistant, of course. I had chosen not to hire from within the company pool though. I worked with temps for many months struggling to let anyone get too deeply invested in the position, or my personal information. It wore on me though; I needed someone I could trust, but I didn't know how I was going to do that. Jane had really done a number on me.

Jane sent letters to both Bella and me, apologizing. I read mine, and promptly threw it away. I think Bella kept hers. She was more touched by it than I had been, and it always amazed me how she could see the good in people who were capable of so much bad. But then, I suppose that was why she still talked to Renee.

As for me, I'd said my peace with Jane the day she left CI. On her way out the door, I reminded her that she was getting off exceptionally easy, and I offered her the same warning I'd given Jess years prior. I had to believe it would be enough to keep her out of our lives and to end her relationship with the press.

But it wasn't enough to make me eager to give someone else access to my files or my life for that matter.

One night not long after we got engaged, Bella encouraged me to let go of my resentment. We were on our way to some even for one of her authors.

"You look exhausted. Maybe Demetri should just take you home after he drops me off."

"It's okay. I'll be fine. There were several mix ups with my schedule today, and I found myself needing to be in several places at once. Took some doing to make everyone happy."

"Edward," she said with a tone that told me what was coming next. "You need someone permanent who can really help things stay on track."

"I know. I just haven't been happy with anyone they've sent."

She knew how bad it had been. Scheduling issues were the downfall of the latest temp. For some reason she kept overriding her entries into the outlook calendar. Before her I had been subjected to a string of glorious incompetence. Two were insufferable flirts. One apparently was so in "awe" of working for a "celebrity" that she clammed up every time she walked in the room.

Flirt number two was probably the worst. She dropped something every time she came into my office. Invariably, she would have to bend down to pick it up slowly. I took to turning my gaze out the window as I dismissed her so she could save herself the trouble. Maybe if she knew I wasn't looking she wouldn't put on the show.

My dad came into my office laughing one day. "Oh, I didn't know you got Vicki from the pool this time."

"You know her?"

"Yes, last year when Heidi was on vacation, I had the pleasure. She seems to enjoy picking things up off the floor doesn't she?"

"You too?" I must have looked incredulous. She had wiggled her ass for my father?

"I know it may surprise you, but some women claim gray hair makes a man more distinguished."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Yes you did, but no matter. Has she spilled water on herself yet?"

"No, I don't think so."

But sure enough the next week, she dabbed purposefully at her breasts after an "accident." When she asked if she could take her top off and just hang out in my office while it dried, I decided that was the end of that assistant.

"What are you going to do? You can't keep doing this. It's been what? At least an assistant a month?"

The car rolled to a stop.

I didn't respond, knowing Demetri would be opening my door soon, but he sat frozen in the front seat. After a long pause, he turned around cautiously.

"Edward, this is completely out of line, but I just thought I'd put this out there. My aunt Irina was a jack of all trades kind of secretary for this small company out in Brooklyn for twenty years, but the company went belly up, and she's looking for a job. She's never been a corporate assistant, but she can do everything you need, and you'll never find anyone in my family who would say a bad word about you. Anyway, I know it sounds crazy, but I figured it was worth mentioning."

Bella smiled next to me and slapped me on the leg. Clearly, I had no choice in the matter.

"Why don't you bring me her resume on Monday, Demetri?"

I have no idea what I ever did without Irina. If I thought Jane was a good assistant, Irina was my savior. Beyond doing everything well, she also pushed me. She'd had a lot more control at her last job since the company was so small, so even though she knew nothing of mergers and takeovers, she let me bounce ideas and encouraged me to take risks.

I also tried to pick her brain about what I could do for Demetri. That man had the most unwavering loyalty of anyone, apart from Bella, I'd ever met. I wanted to give him a massive raise or a promotion, but Irina pulled me back.

"He'd never take it. He is an honest man and he loves his job as is. He doesn't want more responsibility, but he is also full of pride. You already pay him more than a driver would expect. Any more and it would feel like charity to him."

"What is he passionate about? He doesn't talk much about anything but his wife and kids."

"Well there you go. That's his passion. You may have noticed; we are a rather close lot.'"

Irina helped me gain access to the social security numbers of his three children. We both decided he'd never turn down college funds for them, and I hoped with that taken care of, he could use Christmas bonuses for vacations or something nice for his wife.

So, I was very dependant on Irina.

And now in repayment, I had served as a witness to her nephew's wedding. A wedding no one knew had happened. Until today.

She walked in with a very clear mission. She kept her eyes directly focused me. When she got to my desk, she picked up a file, walked around my desk, and whacked me firmly across the back of the head with it.

"Ouch."

"You deserved that. How could you let them elope like that?"

"Irina, it's what they wanted."

"Mr. Cullen, our family is very close. You should know all about that. What if you and Bella tried something like that? How would your family react?"

I actually shuddered at the thought.

"Exactly. Now, why would you think we would be any different?"

"All I knew was that a friend needed me, and she has always done exactly what I needed her to do. No questions asked. I simply afforded her the same courtesy." I smiled at her innocently, watching her soften a little. Then I went for the kill. I slid one corner of my mouth into a smile and winked.

"Oh you little shit. No wonder you are a master negotiator. I tell you. Well fine. I'll let you off the hook, but only because I know you still have to face Demetri."

She laughed heartily, and I braced myself for the onslaught of calls that were likely to come that day.

The Great American Dream - B

You are sooo going down." Emmett taunted me from across the line.

"In your dreams, you big oaf. I'm faster than you'll ever be."

"You better darn well hope so."

"Hike!" Edward called from behind me. I took off down the beach, looking over my shoulder for the streak of blue and orange. It went sailing over my head.

"You throw like a girl, Edward." Alice taunted from her spot on the blanket. Peter was curled up against her shoulder, sound asleep like only a six month old baby can be. It was still odd to see her with a baby, even after all this time. Both she and Jasper had taken to parenthood like ducks to water. Edward and I were secretly betting on how long before they had another.

"No, your husband throws like a girl. I'm just rusty." Edward called back.

I picked up the Nerf ball and ran back to the huddle. It had been a concession after our first game of beach football. I may stink at throwing a football, but I can actually catch one. We got a little bit competitive the first time, and I ended up with a jammed finger from a Hail Mary pass. The Nerf ball replaced the pig skin after that.

We were playing three and three. Emmett, Jasper and Esme versus Carlisle, Edward and me. Rosalie and Alice cheered from the sidelines as Haley built sand castles. Between every play, Emmett would run to the sideline and let her bury his feet or plant a kiss on Rose's head. If I didn't love him so much I'd be grossed out by the gratuitous displays of affection.

Esme fell into step beside me as we walked back to the others. "I really don't know why you let him goad you like that, Bella. He really does need to be put in his place!"

I was about to respond, but a fleeting memory from an early conversation with Edward popped to the surface, providing a flash of inspiration.

"Esme, if I can get you the opening, will you cross enemy lines and take him down?"

"You mean tackle him?" Light danced in her eyes. It's amazing to think that the same woman who could wear couture Ralph Lauren would be just as at home playing football with her family.

"I was thinking more like knock him on his ass."

She grinned and rubbed her hands together in anticipation. "I am there. What do you have in mind?"

I looked over to see Emmett chasing Haley around the blanket, his basketball shorts flapping in the breeze. This would be way too easy.

"You'll know when you see it."

Shooting one last subtle look over my shoulder, I made my way over to where Carlisle and Edward. They stood close together, talking intently about something that appeared much more serious than football. They looked so similar in their khaki shorts and T shirts. Their coloring was night and day, but their body language and gestures were identical. It was funny to watch.

I dropped the football at Edward's feet and threw my arms around each of their shoulders.

"You know that old saying, if Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy?"

"What did you do?" Edward asked, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. He'd been waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop since we flew back from Las Vegas earlier in the week. Irina and Demetri had both given him hell, but the Cullen camp had been suspiciously quiet.

"I haven't done anything yet, but when I do, it's going to make your mom ecstatic." I answered innocently.

"You are finally going to help her take my big brother down, aren't you?" I could already see the wheels turning in Edward's head.

"Yes, but I am going to need you to throw an interception. Think you can do that golden boy?"

Carlisle laughed and poked Edward in the shoulder. "She's got your number. Although the way you are throwing…"

"Watch it old man, I can smoke you any day!" Edward shot back good naturedly.

I threw my hands up in mock consternation, "Enough with the testosterone! Just throw the ball over my head, okay?"

We went back to our formation. Carlisle over center, Edward at quarterback, me on the line facing Emmett.

"Think you are going to beat me again little girl?" Emmett taunted.

"You are going down Emmy Poo," I taunted as I ducked low, ready to take off past him.

"Don't call me Emmy Poo you Ugly Duckling." We'd given each other nicknames after Haley got the book The Ugly Duckling. While mine annoyed me to no end, his drove him crazy.

"Hike!" I heard Edward call. I took off down the beach, but slower this time, waiting for the ball.

It sailed perfectly over my head. Emmett had passed me, and jumped to catch the football. The moment he was airborne with arms outstretched, I tugged on the bottom of his basketball shorts. Just like I'd suspected, they were loose and came down without a problem. Emmett dropped the ball and immediately adjusted trying to grab his shorts.

Esme had all the opening she needed. Before he knew it, Emmett was flat on his back, and his mother was dancing around like a fool.

"Nice tan line, baby!" Rose called from the sideline, laughing so hard she actually snorted.

"You planned that!" Emmett sputtered; his face a livid red. "My own mother collaborated with the enemy! That is so wrong!"

"You deserved it! You've been talking smack since…" I was airborne before I could finish my teasing. My wrists and ankles held securely by Jasper and Carlisle as the carried me towards the water.

"Put me down!" I screeched, struggling and trying to get away. "EDWARD!!!"

It was useless. They gave me a good toss, and I landed ass first in the cold Atlantic Ocean.

"It's a good thing you aren't wearing a white T-shirt," Edward called from the beach.

I stood up and rang out my t-shirt before stalking towards him.

"That's a nice shirt, Edward. I really like the color."

He looked down at the front of the grey University of Iowa T shirt that I'd bought him for Valentine's Day.

I kicked water at him before he could look up. "Wet, sweat, it's all relative."

He looked me up and down, a devious smile on his face.

"You're the one that's soaking wet. Didn't happen to pack those wellies, did you?"

"You are a perv, Cullen."

"You love it, Swan."

"No, I just love you." I don't think I'd ever get tired of saying that.

"You better, we're supposed to be getting married in a two and a half months."

"Jeez, Edward, counting the days?" He grabbed me by the hand, pulling me into a hug.

"I have to admit, I did have passing thoughts when we were in Vegas…"

I laughed and hugged him back. "Then you really would have been mud. I think that would have screwed up all your family's well laid plans."

The Unexpected - E

A few days after the great Emmett tackle, my father called to ask if we could stay in for lunch. He had something to discuss with me.

These days, lunch wasn't an unusual occurrence. We typically met about once a week. Mostly, we discussed books and business. There were two things I appreciated most about those lunches. First, it felt good to be the one for whom he turned his phone off. To know that he valued my time. Second, we'd begun a new tradition. A quote war of sorts. We each picked a quote and had to weave it into the conversation. The other had to identify it and the author by the time my dad turned his phone back on. Loser bought the next lunch at the place the winner chose. Thanks to Bella, I was holding my own, and we were about even, but a very well played Hemmingway meant I had to open up my wallet this week.

The fact that we weren't going out had me a little nervous despite the fact that things were going so well. I was assuming was I would catch flack for letting Tanya and Felix elope. The Romanov's were apparently none too pleased.

Heidi waved me right in, indicating that he was expecting me.

My father was typing at his desk. "Just finishing this up. Help yourself."

The take out was sitting on the conference table, still in the bag. I walked over and began to take out containers.

"It smells delicious," he said as he took a seat at the table. "Thank you for agreeing to meet here instead of going out. I have something I'd like to discuss with you, and I preferred to do it privately."

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" I asked mirroring a question he'd once asked me.

"Honestly, Edward, I have no idea what your reaction is going to be." He nodded toward the food. "Would you like to eat first?"

"Not really, I'm feeling a little anxious."

He smiled. "Fair enough." He leaned back into his chair. "Your mother and I have decided it's time for me to reduce my load, so to speak. I'm planning to step down as CEO by the end of the year. I'm going to stay on as chair of the board though."

I was shocked. I'd had no indication that he was thinking of scaling back. "Why now?"

"The timing feels right. We've made some very smart decisions, and the company is in better shape than most right now. As you know, your mother has just finished renovating the kitchen at the beach house, and we would like to make that a more primary residence. Certainly, having the right people running things here makes the decision easier."

"That's great. Really. You deserve it, Dad. And Emmett's so well respected already. You're leaving things in good hands."

"Ah well, that's the thing I wanted to talk to you about." He sat up again, and leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "Emmett is not interested."

I shook my head lightly. "But wasn't that always the plan?"

"I don't think so. Not for him. He loves the position he's in, and has no desire to be burdened with the kind of responsibility that comes with the CEO title. I've always suspected he didn't really want the reigns, so I wasn't entirely surprised. Besides, he was uncomfortable taking on such a role with Haley so young."

I knew how important his family was to him, so in truth, that response made sense.

"Wow, I had no idea. So, what are you going to do?"

"Edward, I'm asking you. And please know that you are not being considered as a 'second choice' here. Even Emmett said I should have asked you first, but I felt like it was his to refuse."

I can't imagine the look of shock on my face.

"But, I haven't been back very long. There must be a V.P. who would be more qualified."

Everything in my father's demeanor shifted in response.

"There will always be a Cullen at the head of C.I., Edward. If neither of my sons is interested, then I will be the helm until I take my last breath."

I nodded, but the pressure was heavy. I feared it would crush me.

"You really think I could do it?"

"I have no doubt."

"It's a lot to take in. I'm completely floored."

"You don't need to let me know today. Of course, I understand that you cannot make a decision without discussing this with Bella first. I realize the timing may have implications for you, but it's right for the company, and ultimately perhaps for you. Making this transition before you start a family would allow you find your footing before adding another layer of stress. If you decide to take it, I would want to work with you to get everything on target for the end of the year transition." He paused allowing me begin processing. "Now, I'm famished; we can talk more about this after we eat."

I don't think I touched my lunch. Hadn't I just joked with Bella that I wasn't the one running the company? Now I would be? It would change the course of so many things.

For the rest of the afternoon, my head was spinning, trying to figure out how I felt about it. And how I was going to approach Bella. We had plans. The wedding, honeymoon, babies. The whole shebang. Of course, if she didn't want me to do it, I would understand, and I would have to decline even though it would disappoint my father. And . . . well . . . me.

I waited until after dinner. We were lounging on the couch. I should have known her response would be nothing but supportive.

"Oh my god, why didn't you say something sooner? Of course you're going to take it!"

"But it's not that simple." I'd been so busy preparing myself to justify and rationalize why it would be okay to take the job; I hadn't acknowledged how I really felt.

"Yes, it is. You want it right?"

There was no point arguing with that. The minute the question had been posted my heart raced in anticipation. This was the one thing I never thought I could have. I'd always envisioned Emmett in that role.

But it was interesting timing. Had I not met Bella, I wouldn't have had to consider anything. I would have said yes before he finished the sentence. On the other hand, if I hadn't met Bella, my father never would have handed the company over to me.

"I do."

"Hmm, I liked your phrasing of that," she teased.

I chuckled. "Well that's actually part of my hesitation. If I do this, we'd have to put things on hold. Like a wedding," I said. I reached over and placed my hand on her stomach. ". . . and kids. I don't think it would be wise to take on a marriage and company in the same year."

"I know, but it's not forever. Didn't your father raise a family while running the company?"

"Yes, but . . ."

"And who said we were in a hurry anyway? Do you think I'm going anywhere if we have to wait a year or two?"

"No, but ... "

"But nothing. We'll have a wedding and babies; we'll just wait a year or two, or whatever feels right. There's always Vegas right? What happened to your sense of spontaneity, Mr. Tiffany's window? We don't have to plan every detail of our lives. Let our friends have all the babies and weddings. Maybe that'll it make it boring to everyone by the time we finally do it, and there will be less of a fuss."

I inhaled. And smiled. "So, I guess that means I'm going to be CEO of CI."

She lunged at me from her side of the couch and threw her arms around my neck. It wouldn't take much to imagine what came next. We were on the couch after all. I've always been fond of Bella on a couch.

It was some time before we were able to speak again.

"I'm so proud of you," she said.

"I'm still in shock. I don't feel ready."

"You can't ever be ready for something like this. But what do you have if you don't try?"

The answer was simple. You had beautiful girl looking at a window. And a sad boy looking at the girl looking at the window. Never meeting.

I put my hand on her face and let my thumb trace her cheek bone. She leaned into it, and my stomach or chest or wherever did some kind of flip or turn.

Who cared where the space was or what words you used to describe it? It came down to one thing.

Love.

The blip isn't there every day now. It comes and goes as relationships grow. It's easy to think that means the love has faded, or the magic has subsided. But I don't see it that way. The butterflies are about the anticipation of something good, not the fulfillment of it.

If all you had was the shiny package every day, you'd never get to the pastry inside. As pretty as the package is, I like what's in the middle in even more.

Sigh. So many emotions…so many thoughts. Where to even begin.

We know that some of you were hoping to see weddings and BATbabies…and we promise you, at some point you will see a glimpse of the future for these. It won't be a sequel, but we will give you that last bit of closure.

When we started this, we were both terrified over ruining a perfectly good one shot. We never thought that this would have the legs to go anywhere near what this became. A lot of that is thanks to the kind words and encouragement from all of you. When we undertook this little dity, our hope was to get close to 2k reviews. As we hit post, BAT is at just short of 5k reviews combined between the two of us. We are awed, humbled, and grateful to every single one of you.

Thank you for taking this trip with us. For loving the story, for wanting your own wellies and BATward. We promise you will get one more glimpse, although we haven't set a time on it yet. Hmonster4 is busy 'Deconstructing Dracula' and pushing the Indies, ProfMom is down the 'Rabbit Hole', Together we have our co-writing series on TLYDF, and we are brainstorming something new. So have no fear – you haven't seen the last of us yet.

One last plug – if you haven't, please go cast your vote for the indies (www dot theindietwificawards dot net). There are fabulous stories at there that deserve to be known. We were both there once.

Thank you again – wishing you all your own strawberry pop tart.

H&T