Hello!

Yes, I know, shockhorror, there's an AN up here. :D

Now... here's the first epilogue. I was a bit hesitant to putting this up here because after this, we have one chapter (epilogue) and then the AN left.

Please read the AN... you never know if you're gonna be included in it... and I must say, you all probably will be. Really.

Ok... I guess I should stop trying to keep you away from the chapter... so here it goes.

Please read it, review it... hope you love it. Oh and read the AN below please.

Two years later…

Epilogue 1

Stronger

"Edward baby, that's great!" I say, jumping up out of my chair. As soon as I make it to him, I'm ensnared in his arms and I smiled as his head lies on my pregnant belly.

Yes, that's right. I'm pregnant… again. Smiling, I kiss the top of Edward's hair – which is a struggle, to say the least – before I start to rake my fingers through it. It's a relief, really… Edward's been so busy the past week.

But, apparently, that's all finished now… because he's just gotten a promotion and now, he's on at regular hours - nine to five every fucking day from Monday to Friday.

"I know," he says, leaning back to kiss my belly. He settles his chin on it and looks up at me, the smile on his face telling me just how happy he really is. "If it means I get more time with you, Nessie and the little guy in here, then I'm fucking ecstatic."

I giggle, "Well, I'm just glad that you won't be run off your feet. You've been so tired the past couple of weeks."

After a little more talking, Edward and I part and I get back on the bus. It's rare that I'm alone on here. Edward and I usually catch it together, but with him working and me on maternity leave, I'm alone again.

It's actually quite peaceful, as far as all things are considered. Nessie's with Esme and Carlisle – who just love her to death… it's a mutual thing – so I have a few hours to myself.

Putting my earphones in, I look out the window for a while. The rain, I've always loved; it's so peaceful, both to look at and listen to. Feeling it is also quite enjoyable, but only usually with my husband.

Nowadays, a lot of things have changed.

For one, Edward and I live in the town house next to the old one that we shared with Alice and Jasper. They still live in the same place, and –having started before us – they now have two children and a third on the way. We're still quite close to each other, hanging out often and I must say – though Jasper and Edward both hate it and would never admit it – Nessie seems to have a little crush on their Joey… and it looks like it's mutual.

For another thing, Edward Masen has gone to jail… for good. The court case lasted up until Nessie was just about eight months old and it had been a stressful time for everyone. Edward was up all night a lot of the time, and because of that he was too tired during the day… which also made him fucking irritable. Esme and Carlisle were worried when they noticed this – which they did pretty quickly because we started having dinner with them every Saturday.

Elizabeth Masen is another matter. With her second husband in jail, she'd most likely – and seemingly – lost the plot… even tried apologizing to my Hoody for everything she did when she turned up at our house. Edward would have none of it and – amongst other things – told her to get out. Since then, we've barely heard a whisper.

Career wise, Edward and I have changed career paths. Edward found that his job was boring him too much, so he quit after a while and started a full time course in psychology. Carlisle and Esme helped us a little if we needed financial help, but for the most part we were fine. He's still studying, of course, but he's now managing his time and doing it online whilst working at a nicer, friendlier and much more interesting job.

I, on the other hand, am now a writer – my book was a bestseller and I've gone to a few book signings – and a book editor. It's hectic, sometimes, because most days I'm working from nine to six and all the book editing is done at home. So, in the meantime in the office, I'm meeting with authors and accepting calls, emails not to mention all the other meetings with cover artists etc. It's full-time and hard at times, but so fucking amazing.

When the bus finally stops at our stop – which hasn't changed, even now – I get up and walk out. Looking to my right, then to my left, I quickly – well, as quickly as I can at eight months pregnant – cross the road and walk toward our house.

I'm holding a manuscript that I've been carrying around since before going on maternity leave. The way I see it, just because I'm not working at the moment and I should be resting, doesn't mean I necessarily have to stop doing the manuscript editing. It is, of course, an activity that just involves me, a cup of coffee, pens and markers etc. and the manuscript.

I can go at it for hours and hours on end, provided I have enough coffee.

Suddenly, I'm hit hard in the shoulder and the manuscript falls out of my hand. Sighing and cursing, I bend down to get it, finding it a little difficult to get down there so far because of the eight month pregnant belly in my way.

If I'd been paying attention, I would have noticed that I knew the hands, legs and style of clothing. I knew it well.

"Sorry about that," the person says and I freeze.

I know that voice. It's the same voice that haunted me for years after the last time I'd heard it. The one that had said all those horrible things, things that had impacted me the rest of my life up until I met Edward – this is the voice of my mother.

"Um," I say, clearing my throat. I don't look up, not sure if I even want to see her face. Will she even recognize me? Because she either does recognize me but she's ignoring me – which would mean that she's just a total, absolute bitch – or she doesn't recognize me at all.

I realize a moment later that I'm waiting for. Frowning and searching my mind, I realize that what I'm waiting for is the self-doubt, self-hating feelings that used to come when I thought of my mother.

And when I realize that I don't feel that anymore… I lift my head, feeling only strength as I look her in the eye. Looking at her with the exact same eyes that she has, the same pale skin, I say to her, "That's ok, Mum."

And then I get up and walk away, ignoring the shouts that sound from my mother's mouth as I walk away from the hurt of my former life and walk back toward my current and future life.

And this time… I'm smiling.

Alright. There's the first one... how was that?

I must tell you, I actually have a personal connection with the book editing and book writing part because that is my dream job. Someday, I hope to become one. :D

Alright, I'm gonna tell you now that for every review for this chapter, I will return a PM to the reviewer with a preview of the last epilogue. Then I'll thank everyone who reviews for the last epilogue.

Yep. That's right - so go on! Type it in and press go... below!

(that was so bad)

See you tomorrow for the final ACTUAL chapter. :(

bexie25

PS - My Saviour - which I've talked about before - actually got no reviews last night and 2 alerts, 1 fav. So I know I said it before, but... could you take a look at it?