Epilogue- Three Months Later
"Run your fingers through my soul.
For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel,
believe what I believe,
perceive as I perceive,
look, experience, examine
and for once; just once, understand."
-Unknown
--
The water lapped softly at the ridges of rock and grass lining the small lake. The sun illuminated the small area, making it seem brighter and more open. A few small ducks paddled softly along the edges of the water, their gentle quacks the only noise penetrating the area.
Bella laid, eyes closed, on a blanket relishing the gentle silence that she had come to know and love as her escape. There were no dishes to be done, no clothes to be cleaned, and no children to watch. The peacefulness of the moment seeped into her being and she let out a gentle sigh of pleasure.
"Don't fall asleep on me now," Edward whispered softly pressing a kiss on her forehead.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Bella replied opening her eyes and smiling softly at him.
"Mmmhmm." He hummed softly chuckling. "I know that sigh."
"How long until Rose drops the kids off?" Bella questioned; rolling onto her side to look at him better.
"We have awhile," Edward responded smirking softly, "Don't worry about it."
Rolling her eyes, Bella chided him softly, "I am a mother, it's my job to worry."
"If you say so," Edward answered pulling her body closer to his side and nuzzling his head into her hair. "It's so peaceful and quiet."
"So unlike our house," Bella laughed softly. "Admit it; you could totally fall asleep too."
"Nah," he whispered softly ,"I'm too busy watching you."
A gentle blush settled across her face and she could feel his gentle chuckling shake through his body. Playfully shoving him away, Bella rolled onto her back and stared up at the tree above her.
Edward rolled next to her and pulled her to him. He looked serious and she turned, eyebrow raised in confusion at the look on his face.
"Don't push me away, don't ever push me away. I lost you once and I almost lost you again for real. I'm not letting you go for a single moment that I don't have to."
"Edward." Her voice broke as she brought her hand up and rested it against his cheek. A small tear leaked from his eye and he burrowed his face into her neck. She could feel the wet pebble hit her neck and run down her collarbone. "I'm alright. Aaralyn is alright."
"I know," his voice broke and he pulled away, setting up and running his hand through his tousled hair. Pulling herself into a sitting position, Bella rested her head against his shoulder with her hand resting softly on his back. Edward turned his head to look at her, emotion still strongly featured on his face.
"I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you. I was going crazy in that waiting room, pacing back and forth. Just knowing that you were in the other room and I couldn't be there, I couldn't do anything to help, it killed me Bella."
"Even after your surgery was over, I still expected the worse. I worried that you wouldn't wake up, that something would go wrong with your recuperation, that you would realize what a failure I was in protecting you and you would leave me."
"Never," she whispered firmly, entwining her free hand with his. "It wasn't your fault, Edward. These things happen. I don't blame you for the piece of metal in my heart, I don't blame Aara either. It's just something that happened and you need to stop blaming yourself."
"I know," Edward stated firmly, "I'm trying. It's hard to know that I got the easy end of the deal. You had to go through so much and here I am unscathed. I need you to know, to understand, how miserable my life would have been without you. I would have been a shell of the man I was. You brought me to life, Bella, you must know that."
"Just as you brought me to life," She replied, "You taught me to feel again."
Edward turned around to fully look at her, his eyes meeting hers. "I love you, my Bella."
"I love you too, Edward."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, flipping it open quickly so she could see the ring inside. "I lost you once and in the process lost myself. I want to spend every day with you, every moment I possibly can. I want to help take care of our family together and I want to be there for Alice the way you are there for Emmett. Marry me?"
"Yes," Bella cried softly, "Yes, I will marry you."
Edward gently pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger, kissing her hand and then her palm as his fingers traced over the ring delicately.
Bella took a deep breath as the tears fell softly down her face. Leaning in she kissed him, her arms wrapping firmly around him.
--
"There you two are," Rose called. Alice and Emmett trailed behind her; Emmett carrying a diaper bag and Alice the stuffed bear Bella had received in the hospital. The item had become a kind of security blanket for her and she didn't leave home without it. The constant love was beginning to show on the raggedy bear.
Placing the baby carrier on the blanket Rose plopped down next to Edward and Bella immediately grabbing Bella's hand.
"So you said yes."
"Of course she said yes," Edward muttered indignantly causing both of the women to chuckle. Picking up Aaralyn he worked his way over to the water where their two other children sat feeding the ducks.
"I told Jasper there was no way in hell that you would turn that gem down." Rose looked at Edward for a moment before once again looking at the three stone ring, her fingers softly playing with the band. "As if Jasper had any doubt you would say yes anyways," Rose sighed.
"You two sure seem to be spending a lot of time together?" Bella questioned.
"It's not like that, we're just friends. Although Jasper did mention introducing me to this big hunk of a man that came into his shop the other day. Just my type and I could use a good lay."
Bella snorted, shaking her head, "You never change."
"I know," Rose muttered, "Isn't it great."
Bella couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips. "It truly is."
"Mommy," Emmett came running over and plopped down in Bella's lap a huge smile on his face. "Daddy says I can call you mommy now. Is that right, Mommy?"
"It sure is sweetie," Bella replied kissing the small boy on the head, "And Alice can call Edward Daddy."
The small girl squealed and launched herself at Edward dropping her bear in the process. Edward kept a tight hold on the baby as Alice rocked his bottom half; the sight had both of the women in stitches.
Kneeling down Edward placed a soft kiss on Alice's head before standing back up and gently rocking a fussing Aara back to sleep.
"Crabby baby," Emmett muttered his nose scrunched in distaste. It was taking Emmett and Alice a bit of time getting used to having a new baby in the family. While they both loved her most of the time, the sound of her crying was something they were still not quite used to.
Hopping up Emmett made his way to Alice, grabbing her hand and dragging her out of the grotto and towards the park just beyond the trees.
"Stay close," Edward called to the two children as he handed Aaralyn over to Bella and quickly followed them down the gravel path.
"He makes a good dad," Rose smiled softly.
"He really does," Bella nodded smiling at her now cooing baby. "I think he will probably make a pretty good husband too."
Bella's smile was all the confirmation Rose needed.
--
That night they lay together in bed, a comfortable silence overtaking the room. Bella had finished her last round of therapy and as far as her doctors were concerned, was fully recovered. Butterflies filled her chest as she thought about what that meant, for her and for Edward.
They could finally be together again.
While the three months of therapy had not, by any means, been easy it was something that Bella's heart had needed to recuperate. Something Edward had been more than respectable about. It still hadn't been easy for her, going to bed each night and wanting more than she could have but she had definitely learned some major patience.
"I feel like it's my first time all over again," she whispered into the silent room. He chuckled nervously in response before running his hand through his messy hair.
"I feel the same," Edward replied after a moment hesitation. The comment seems to bring about a palpable nervousness and yet Bella doesn't feel unnerved. "It's been so long."
"Too long," she whimpered.
He slides closer to her, his body lining up along hers as he presses against her side. Her body trembles and she gasps for air. His hands tremble as he reaches for her, his mouth opening and closing with no words escaping.
"I know," reaching up she presses her palm against his cheek, her eyes meeting his; her thumb gently stroking his bottom lip. Both of their breaths come out in pants, mingling somewhere in the air between them as she turns on her side pressing herself more fully to him. She feels like she is on fire, burning slowly from the inside out. She relishes the feeling.
With little thought, she crushes her lips to his; her tongue snaking out and running across his lips. His hands tangle in her hair pulling her closer, tighter to him. Her body heaves for air and he pulls away gasping to catch his breath.
Bella pulls him above her, so she can feel the weight of his body on top of her and moans at the contact, throwing her head back into the pillow. His lips meet her throat, then her collarbone, before tracing along the lace hem of her top with his tongue.
His hands trace along her arms, his touches so soft she can feel the goose-bumps rising and as he reaches the bottom of her shirt he looks up at her for permission.
"Please."
He pulls it off slowly, teasingly, and before she can register his hands are touching her; gently running along the stretch marks now present. His mouth and then his tongue follow the paths, worshiping each scar.
She threads her fingers through his hair, latching herself onto him and onto the moment, afraid of losing herself too completely. After a moment he pulled away, reaching down and gently tugging his own shirt off, their skin pressing together.
"I love you," Edward whispers softly his eyes never leaving hers.
"I love you too." And she knows that is all that needs to be said.
He gently removes her shorts before pulling off his boxers, moving to hover once again above her. "It might hurt and if it does I'm sorry."
Suddenly he kisses her again, his tongue tracing her lips for a moment before making its way down the column of her neck where he rests his head. Gently he presses against her and slowly enters her stilling once he is all the way inside.
"Are you alright?" Her mouth opens to respond, but a gasp escapes instead. His eyes meet hers, filled with passion, desire, and love.
She nods silently, tears streaming down her face.
"You're crying."
"Happy tears." She arches her back bringing him in deeper and causing him to let out a gentle grunt. He sets an excruciatingly slow pace, her fingers latched into his back pulling him closer to her. Their lips meet for a moment before he begins to trail kisses along her face and neck.
Continuing to thrust, he leans down and places a kiss where her heart is frantically beating in her chest. Tears in his eyes as he looks up at her she is overcome with emotion. Without saying anything she looks at him and she understands.
She can feel all of him, each part of her body meeting his with every movement that they make. Words tumble from his lips; the only thing she can make out is her name, "Bella."
Their eyes meet and she rocks her hips in rhythm with his, feeling him deeper inside of her and causing her to throw back her head and groan. His arms hold her tighter and there is an intensity on his face that has her struggling to catch her breath, and struggling not to fall over the edge.
Their hands meet and grasp, foreheads press together, breaths flutter across each other's face. His head lulls back, mouth open and panting. "Oh god," he moans softly in response. She is enamored by each flicker of emotion across his face and watching him she cries as she falls over the edge. He falls right after her.
His body collapses next to her pulling her tightly against his side. He kisses her on the forehead, his lips ghosting over her eyelids and then pressing against her lips.
"I love you." He lowered his head then, resting it against her bare stomach fingers splayed across it.
She lifted her hand, resting it in his hair as she gently stroked it, "I love you too." It amazed Bella how those three simple words could convey all of the thoughts and feelings that Edward provoked in her, but they did.
Well this is it… the end. I know the epilogue took awhile to get up, but I have been sick with Tonsillitis and unable to really do much of anything. A few notes:
The baby's name was Aaralyn Lila Cullen or Aara for short. Aaralyn means Beautiful Melody and was submitted by aaovd-runner. Lila means Night or Good and was submitted by SuchABlue and Cherryflavorpez. Thank you to all of you who submitted names, all of them were beautiful!
The voting is still open as to which story you would prefer me to write. Descriptions of Whispers and Our Last Summer and voting information can be found in my profile. The voting will be open until Sunday July 12th, I hope to have the first chapter up on Monday.
Thank you to all of you who reviewed, added this story to your alerts, or to your favorites. You have truly inspired me more than you guys will ever know. Every time I felt down about the story, didn't want to write, or was just in a funk one of you was there to talk it through. You are amazing, thank you!
Special thank you to Pixielovestoshop for talking through a few points of this chapter with me, especially the ending which she helped me with immensely. You're truly an awesome beta!
I am sad to see this story go but look forward to creating a new story and a new world for you all to join me in! Until then!
Nikki
