Chapter 19 – Epilogue
3 Months later:
It had been three months since Rosalie and Emmett McCarty had found and adopted their own little girl Savannah Karlie, but also her best friend Isabella. The twins had reacted well to having two older sisters; Jessica would join in on a conversation from time to time, but Alice loved them to bits. For Rose, it was a dream come true to have her daughter back with her, and the fact that she had the opportunity to have another child was beyond anything she'd ever imagined. Emmett was thrilled too, and enjoyed having two more girls to add to his household. He had even suggested they apply for the one-off television programme 'Four sons verses four daughters'. However, with Rose being who she was it would have been pretty impossible.
Of course, when the girls were officially part of the family they had told all the relatives who were thrilled and shocked. Emmett's sister had nearly fainted, whilst Rose's brother Edward had the phone on loud speaker so they heard the piercing shriek of joy from his twelve year old daughter. But none, bar Esme and Carlisle, had actually met the girls yet. So, that's why they were holding a garden party for all the family one sunny October Saturday.
"Bella, can you grab the plastic cups from the party cupboard please," Rose asked as her daughter rounded the corner.
"Course Rose," she replied.
Bella had spoken with Rose about this matter, and they both decided that, as she wasn't her real mother and they had only known each other for a few months that it would be better if she called her by her first name instead of 'Mum'. Rosalie had also put the point across, that if she ever wanted to call them mum or dad that she should without hesitation. Savannah, however, was revelling in the chance to call them by their maternal and paternal names after being deprived of it for so long.
"Thanks baby," Rose said kissing her on the forehead as she put them on the island in the kitchen where all the food was laid out.
"The barbeque is lit," Emmett announced coming through the door.
"Make sure Alice and Jessica don't go near it: I know what they're like," Rose told him rolling her eyes at her daughter.
"Mum, where did you put my Uggs?" Savannah called down the stairs.
"You're not wearing them outside sweetie, but if you want them now they're in the final shoe compartment of your wardrobe."
"Thanks."
They had converted one of the two guest bedrooms into a room for Bella and then got her to choose the design, making it her own. It had three light blue walls, and one which was cream wallpaper with retro blue flowers on it. She too had been brought a double bed, with neither adults backing down when she insisted a single one would do her fine. Unlike the other bedrooms this one didn't have a walk in wardrobe, but they had promised to install one for Christmas despite further protests.
"Daddy, when are they arriving?" Alice asked as she danced into the kitchen in her pyjamas.
"Ali-bee you're not dressed yet! They'll be here in ten minutes so go quickly," he replied as she shot back up the stairs.
Ten minutes later there was the first knock on the door, and a now fully dressed Alice rushed down the stairs to get it.
"Auntie Jane!" she squealed.
"How's my Alice doing?" Jane asked picking her up off the ground, "You've definitely grown missy."
"Come in and see Mummy and my sisters," she insisted dragging her aunt through the hall before briefly turning around to say, "Hi Uncle Marcus, you can come too."
They entered the kitchen where Savannah and Bella were sat on the breakfast bar chatting to Rose as she put the final touches to the cake which she had made with the twins the evening before.
"Jane, lovely to see you; Em's by the barbeque if you're wondering," Rose greeted leaving the cake and hugging her sister in law.
"Rose, it's so good to see you again: it must be what, five months since we last met up for Mark's birthday," she said hugging her back.
At that point the doorbell rang again and Alice ran off to answer it once more.
"Auntie Maria, Uncle Jazz come into the kitchen," she said in a voice that barely contained her excitement.
"Ali don't close the door, we're coming in too," a man's voice said from outside.
"Uncle Edward!"
It seemed everyone was arriving now; Emmett's brother and parents followed Edward and Tanya through the door.
"Can I shut it now?" Alice asked from her position by the door.
"If that's everyone then yes you can," Esme told her.
Back in the kitchen it was getting starting to look slightly crowded, and with everyone greeting each other there was quite a bit of noise.
"Bells, what happens if they don't like us?" Savannah asked from where they were looking after the barbeque for their dad.
"Sana, if they don't like us then so what: I mean, Esme and Carlisle love us and everyone has said they will," Bella assured her.
"Yeah, I suppose Nana and Granddad do love us, and we've spoken to the others on the phone," she justified.
"Girls, there you are," Emmett said coming out the door, "We were wondering where you got to."
"We didn't want to intrude," Savannah answered.
"Karlie, baby, you aren't: you're both as much a part of this family as anyone in there. Now, stop being silly and come inside," he told them.
Savannah took his warm hand for reassurance, and he put his arm around Bella's shoulder as they went back inside. Everyone turned to look at them and the room went silent. Bella could feel a blush rising in her cheeks.
"Everyone, I want you to meet our daughters: Savannah Karlie who some of you met when she was newborn, and our new addition Bella," Emmett introduced.
Everyone came up to hug and kiss them, introducing themselves before going out into the garden. Only the children remained inside: waiting to meet their new cousins.
"We're Theo and Harry," two boys said coming up to the girls.
These were Jasper's energetic sons that Rosalie had told them about. Theo had the Hale's blonde hair and blue eyes, making him look like a mini-me of his dad whilst Harry seemed to take after Maria. He had brown curly hair and big brown eyes, with cute dimples that appeared when he smiled. Those dimples were definitely Rosalie's both girls thought, and later when discussing it Bella pointed out they were Savannah's also. (If you watch the X Factor, just imagine a younger Harry Styles from One Direction).
"I'm Savannah and this is Bella," Karlie said smiling at them.
"We both have the same dimples," Harry remarked.
"Yes, and Theo has the same hair as me," she added as the younger boy was starting to look a bit upset.
"And I have Bella's hair and eyes," Harry said once again.
"Well, yes we do: what a coincidence," Bella replied feeling more accepted into the family.
"We're going to play now, and can you tell George to come out when he's met you," Theo asked as they ran out the door.
A third boy who must be George approached them as they heard Jasper shout from outside:
"Theo put that spade down and Harry, don't hit him with a bucket please!"
"I don't really want to play with them," George admitted after that, "But they are my cousins so I will."
"That's good of you, and I suppose you know who we are," Bella asked him.
"Yes, you're Isabella and you're Savannah," he replied.
"Call me Sana or Karlie please, and this one's Bella," Savannah told him and he smiled at them.
"I'm going to play now, but maybe I'll stay with Alice and Jessica to begin with."
"Okay, have fun!" Bella shouted after him.
George resembled Edward, but had Tanya's strawberry blonde hair with those bright green eyes. He was quite short and thin, but Rose had explained that Edward looked exactly the same at that age. He would rather be playing the piano or reading than out playing rugby or doing army cadets with Jasper.
Finally, a girl about Bella's height with bronze curly hair and blue, almond shaped eyes timidly approached the two of them.
"You must be Ella," Savannah said breaking the ice.
"Yes, I've heard an awful lot about you both and Savannah I've seen your baby photos," she admitted shyly.
"How embarrassing is that hey? Well, would you mind if we said we've seen the ones of you in dad's photo albums too?" she asked.
"No, and can I say thank-you for giving me two female cousins that are near my age."
"Oh Ella, that's okay," Bella laughed, "Call me Bella and her Karlie like we told your brother though. Wait, our name's rhyme: that's amazing."
They both laughed at this, and Savannah rolled her eyes as Esme walked in the room.
"Darlings, lunch is ready, so if you all want to come outside and get a plate then you can get something to eat," she informed them.
"Coming Nana," Savannah promised.
"You ready?" Bella asked her cousin.
"Yes, of course."
"Savannah Karlie Rose McCarty don't think about coming outside in those," Rose warned from the table on the patio where she was stood.
"She does realise I was outside in them a minute ago, but I will change them," she whispered to Bella and Ella before turning around.
"May I come with you?" Ella suddenly asked
"Of course you can. Bells, you too?"
"No, Alice is gesturing madly or me to come outside so I'll see you both in a minute"
The two cousins walked together up the stairs to Karlie's room.
"It must be weird, sharing your parents with your best friend who isn't really their daughter," Ella stated.
"In a way, yes: I did kind of want them to myself for a while, but then I realised that Bella had as much of a right to them as I did. Besides, it must be more strange for her with me saying Mummy and Daddy; lying with my head on their laps in front of the television, hugging them, and being able to talk to Rose about anything no matter how personal because she is my mum. She will never be able to do that like I do, which is sad really, but she's as happy as I am that we have a family together: despite the fact that they're mine," she replied thoughtfully before adding, "That didn't sound spoilt and selfish did it?"
"No, but I understand now," Ella laughed.
"Right, shall I go to the other extreme and put wellies on or shall I just chuck on a pair of pumps?" Savannah asked opening the door to her wardrobe.
"Wow," Ella breathed, "It must be so amazing when your mum is who she is: you get all this."
"It is so amazing, but I'd love her all the same even if I didn't have all this, if you understand. Were she some poverty ridden woman living with my dad in some council estate somewhere I would still love both of them exactly the same," she said.
"Karlie, there will be no food left for you at this rate," she heard Emmett call up.
"Ummmm, pumps will do," she said grabbing an old pair out of the first shoe compartment.
They ran down the stairs laughing and talking before joining Bella in the queue for food.
Everyone got on. That was all that mattered, and the fact they loved both girls like they had always been there was even better. They'd filled the empty hole in everyone's hearts and everyone would be eternally grateful that Rose found that box on that day. Without it, who knows what would have happened.
Thank-you to ever one who has read this story, and supported it from the beginning, and also those who have joined in part way. I am so grateful to you all: you make this story what it is; without the support I wouldn't have written past the first chapter.
I am going to put a poll on my profile to see how many people want me to write a sequel to this, and I've been thinking that if you do it will be next on my list. If you don't, then I may have other ideas that could be worked on (hopefully).
And for anyone anywhere watching the X Factor final tonight: I really want Rebecca to win, One Direction second and Matt third. Sorry if this causes controversy but she so deserves it, and her children are so gorgeous (not that that affects her singing!)
Thank-you once again for everything, XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
The sequel to this is called 'Finding the Truth in Yourself' and I have published it today!