Epilogue

Epov

Many years later

"Edward, where are we going? You know I don't like secrets. Stop laughing! Just tell me where we are?"

I couldn't help it. I had to laugh. Bella was sometimes so clueless. In the many years that we were together she had changed so much.
She grew more independent and less shy. She became also more talkative. She participated more in discussions what really pleased Carlisle. He and Bella often were having very deep conversations about medical illnesses. Bella had recently discovered her interest in medicines. So every time she discovered an interesting story, she discussed her ideas with Carlisle.

Also she became a bit bossier. Especially concerning her sexual needs. She found so many different ways to seduce me. But with two sisters and mistresses of seduction, it wasn't so hard to become such a professional as well. Besides I was always willing to get trapped in her sneaky plans.

Bella clearly enjoyed her life now. With time passing, her smile became more and more present on her little face. She became more and more use to have people around her as well. A couple of years after our marriage, we moved back to Alaska where she attended the University of Alaska. She did it so well, controlling her fear and studying foreign languages.

But on the other hand, some things couldn't be changed. Bella still had an aversion towards men and preferred to stay on a safe distant. With woman, there wasn't a single problem but men would always be a problem. And to be honest, I liked it that way. Because I didn't trust men around Bella. It wasn't very nice to think that but I just couldn't help it. Even though I could hear their innocent thoughts, I kept them away from Bella when necessary.
And of course she still remained stubborn. At bit more than in former days. I often had to separate Alice and Bella when they were yet again discussing some particular clothing. They adored each other but on the subject of fashion my two little girls were the biggest enemies.

"Edward, stop dreaming! Just tell me where we're going?"

"Patience, my love. You will find out soon."

I had a surprise for my beloved wife.
Even after so many years, she still was mourning over her parents. She didn't mention them but I knew it. I could see it in her eyes. Maybe her mind was still a mystery for me but over the years I learned to read her expressions.

So I went searching on the internet, looking for a couple that died in a fire several years ago. And after long searching I found something. A couple, a police officer and his wife that had died in a house fire. They had had a daughter but they had never found her body. The police had searched for a long time but after many weeks they just gave up. It was an unsolved, closed case. The time, place and descriptions seemed right so I was rather positive that these people were Bella's parents. And currently I was driving toward Phoenix.

It was late in the afternoon and when we arrived in Phoenix the sun was almost under. I easily found the cemetery that was situated in the east of the city. Also the smell of the deceased people wasn't very hard to locate. I parked close to the gate and I went to open Bella's door. She looked confused, still not knowing why or where we were.

"I have a surprise for you, my love. Come on, just follow me."

We entered the cemetery and I went searching rather determined for her parent's gravestone. It wasn't a big cemetery so after a few minutes I found the right grave. It was made of a simple black stone and there were white flowers planted in the front. Bella stood next to me, eyeing the names on the tombstone.

"Edward, are they…"
I turned around and looked at my wife's confused face.

"Bella dear, these people are your parents. I thought that you disserved a chance to get to know them and to say a proper goodbye."
Bella turned her head again toward the tomb and just stared at it.

It said: Officer Charlie Swan and Renee Swan. Respected and loved, never forgotten.
Probably written by a friend of theirs. It was silent for a while before Bella started to speak.

"Hey mom. Hey dad. It's… me, Isabella. I don't know if you remember or recognize me but I'm your daughter…. Yeah, this is probably a big surprise for you that I'm still alive. But here I am. Jam… he kept me alive, the man that… murdered you. He wanted me as his companion, his girlfriend. That's why he…did it. It hurt, it really hurt. But it's over now. He's dead. I've gotten my revenge, sort of."

"I'm happy now. I have found a family that really cares about me. Carlisle and Esme are my adoptive parents now. And I can assure you, they take good care of me, treating me like a daughter of their own. I also have brothers and sisters now. I don't know if I had siblings in my human life but these are really fantastic. Rosalie and Alice are just amazing. Although I often have a fight with Alice about my dressing style. And Emmett and Jasper, ha. They are the best brothers a girl can wish for. Jasper is more the sensitive brother who can help you with everything. And Emmett is the one if you want to do something crazy or stupid. He's great. But don't worry. We don't over exaggerate. At least I don't."

I smirked at this. She was so right. Emmett just couldn't be subtle and he always had to go overboard. Bella had heard me laugh and squeezed my hand lightly.

"I'm also married, with Edward. Mom, you would have loved him. And dad, you would have approved the minute you saw him. He's just perfect. He loves me so much. He adores me and in his eyes I can't do anything wrong. He treats me like a princess. He protects me, listens to me and gives me everything that I want. I'm so spoilt with him. I now realize that I'm so lucky to have him as my husband."

My heart was swelling with every word she said about me. She really loved me and every day my love for her grew a little bit more. Even when I thought that it wasn't possible, my adoration towards my wife grew yet further. Sometimes I still thought that I was dreaming.

Suddenly I felt Bella squeezing my hand hard, like she was desperately holding on on something. I looked at her and saw the tears running down her cheeks.

"I miss you so much. Every freaking day! Mom, how many times I didn't wish that you were here with me, holding me in your arms. You had to be the one that comforted me in difficult times and taught me the facts of life. Dad, you had to be there to protect me from the bad things of the outside world. I wanted you to be the one that guided me down the aisle.
This is so unfair! Why did this have to happen to us? Why did they take you away from me? You missed so much! If it weren't for that bastard, we would be still together. We would have lived our lives like it was meant to be. You two would have grown old, see me grow up and have a baby on my own. But now, you're gone and you have missed everything. I'm so sorry, so sorry for this."

It became too much for Bella and she collapsed on the ground. I quickly kneeled down and took her in my arms, trying to comfort her.
I knew that something like this would happen. But I was convinced that it was still a good thing to bring her here. Now she knew at least who her parents were and could she release all those bad feelings that were floating around in her mind. She had to get it out. And now she did it. All the frustrations and anger that was killing her inside was finally released.
We sat there for a while, just me with my mourning girl in my arms. After some time the crying started to decrease and changed into silent sobs.

"Bella, it's all right. Your parents understand you. You didn't choose this life. It was chosen for you by someone who didn't have the right. And I think that your parents didn't miss a thing of your life."
I felt Bella's head moving up so I leaned a bit back to look into her blurry eyes.

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, because of you, I know now that there's a heaven somewhere. And I believe that your parents have watched you from there. They never left you; your loved ones never truly leave you. They are there, keeping a close eye on you. It's just sometimes hard to see them."

Bella just stared at me, taking in my words carefully. And then a little smile was making her way on to her delicate face. She turned her face again to the tombstone.
"I told you mom and dad. He's just too good to be true. Always knows what to say."

I smirked and gave her a kiss on her head. In return she gave me a little peek on the lips back. We stood up and Bella turned toward the grave.

"Mother, father. I'm so glad that I found you. After all those years of blackness, I can at least give you a name. This isn't what I wished for but I hope that you're somehow proud of me, of what I have become. And I hope that one day, we will meet again. It will not be soon. But who knows what lies ahead of us. Goodbye mom and dad. I love you."

Bella kissed her fingertips and placed them on the names of her parents. She was saying goodbye. But before we left, I had to do one more thing.

"Thank you, sir and ma'am. Thank you for bringing this beautiful woman into this world. She is my everything and completes me in every possible way. She is the one shining star in the sky. I will take good care of her. I will love her until the end of time if not longer than that. That's a promise."

I took my wife by the hand and led her away from the grave, back to the car. Bella was clearly emotional touched by my words. I could see it in her eyes.

"That was so sweet of you to do that."

She had opened up her mind for me, just for a split second. But it was enough for me to hear her thoughts. I knew that it wasn't easy for her to do that. But this was her way to show me that she cared about me. I hugged her even closer to my body and kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Edward Cullen." she whispered.

"I love you too, Bella Cullen. More than anything, until my last breath."

And that was what I did, what I'm still doing.

Hey, this is the last chapter. :-( I hope you liked it.
I just want to thank all of you for reading my story and reviewing it.
It's was my first long English story and it gave me great pleasure to hear that you all liked my story. And I hope that you will keep a eye out for future stories.

So this is last time i ask you to please review my story.
Hopefully see you in my next story.
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