hey all... hope you've enjoyed "After the Equinox"! :) any last input on this story would be so great! I'd like to know what you've thought now that this story is a wrap... thanks all for everything!

Chapter 53

One month later...

Masen, Leah and Cassandra had returned home to their place on the reservation, though visited everybody frequently. Carlisle's hypothesis was proved correct thus far, as Cassandra began to thrive on formula, rather than blood, as of recent days.

Kate and Garrett temporarily relocated closer to the Cullens with plenty of space for William and Madison, who were expected to begin high school following the midterm exam schedule at Forks in the winter. Madison was eager, though William seemed to enjoy his carefree, no rules lifestyle and moaned and groaned a little more than usual, though was happy that he and Madison no longer had to be apart. Kate and Rosalie made it a point to dedicate installing all the important rules of society, vampire and human, into their happily in love children.

Alexandra and Michael were still in the early stages of their relationship and both of them seemed to be completely fine with taking things slow. Alexandra was still yet to trust anyone with her heart again completely, though Michael's warmth and kindness were beginning to guide her back in the trusting direction.

Things, overall, had begun to get back to normal as the 'miracle children' continued to spread their wings and create lives for themselves.

Carlisle and Esme sat close together and in separate chairs on the back deck. Their hands were intertwined on top of Carlisle's arm rest and his thumb gently stroked hers in a slow, circular motion.

Across from them sat Alice, who sat comfortably in Jasper's lap, with Rosalie and Emmett to the left and Edward and Bella to the right.

The late autumn air was cool and stray leaves swirled about lazily when a random wind picked up. Days had gotten shorter in Washington and at just slightly after five o'clock, the sun was slowly making it's way below the horizon, leaving the town accompanied by the dim rays created by the twilight hour.

"Thanksgiving was nice," Alice commented, snuggling even closer to Jasper than she already was.

"It was nice carving the turkey and preparing a meal for everyone," Bella added.

"I can't believe you can cook," Emmett said with a smile. He looked over at his sister and she shook her head at him. Edward smiled, looking at both of them.

"Bella did fine," Rosalie said to Emmett.

"The meal came out perfectly," Esme told them, "Bella, your dad said he really enjoyed it."

She smiled, "Thanks. I'm glad."

"I'm sorry you two didn't get your chance at having a child," Carlisle said, looking over at Alice and Jasper, "We intend to help you out when the time comes around again."

They smiled, "Eternity..." Alice told him, "There's no rush."

"It was still a blessed thing that you did that day," Carlisle told them, "Thank you. I don't know if I've ever flat out addressed either of you about it. Esme told me." He looked over at his wife, who smiled at him. He returned the expression and put his other hand over hers for a moment.

"No worries," Jasper said with a smirk.

"I can't believe Cassandra was born on the eclipse," Rosalie said aloud with a hint of wonder in her voice, "You know... what are the odds?"

"Weird coincidence," Emmett agreed.

Carlisle sighed, "I don't believe in coincidences. I think it was meant to happen that way, for whatever reason. Maybe Alice and Jasper's wishes aided in her savior."

"You think-" Rosalie started.

"I don't want to go down the endless possibilities that could have come of the situation," he told her with a light smile, "I just don't believe in coincidences."

Rosalie nodded with a smile, "Me either."

Carlisle looked at Esme and switched his seating arrangement so they were a few inches closer. He put an arm loosely over her shoulders and the two of them looked at each other intently for a few seconds before he pulled her to him and kissed her on the cheek.

"So..." Emmett said, "What do we do now?"

"Start a fire," Jasper suggested.

His brother smiled, "No. I mean, now that we're all settled down and okay. Are we staying here? Are we going to pick a fight with the Volturi again?"

Rosalie shot him a disapproving look and rolled her eyes as he winked at her.

"I'm teasing babe," he said.

"You two should go to college," Edward suggested with a grin, looking directly at Rosalie, "You could use some brushing up on your medical training."

Her face stayed stern as she addressed him, "Edward. Let's not forget who delivered Alexandra. You wouldn't have been able to take care of her and Esme the way I did."

"Oh, come on," he argued lightly, "They would have been in much better hands with me."

"Your hands don't hold a candle to mine. Yours would have probably crushed poor Alex. Your careless hands."

"Rosalie-" Esme said.

"Let them go," Emmett urged.

Edward snickered, feeling a bit satisfied at how easily he got under his sister's skin.

"Cut it out," Bella said to him, tugging on his shirt.

He looked at her with a grin for a second, then back to Rosalie. He held his hands out, "These are the softest hands in the family."

"Not as soft as the doctor's," Emmett said with a laugh, "Right Esme?"

Carlisle and Esme both laughed, along with everyone but Rosalie. She continued to glare at Edward.

"Oh, lighten up Rosalie," Edward told her, "You were the best one for the job, okay?"

A smile slowly spread across her face and the tenseness of her body deminished as she sunk closer into Emmett, "It's about time you said so."

"So the kids are all gone," Emmett said aloud. His eyes scanned everyone.

"Unfortunately, they're not much of kids anymore," Esme said with a half frown.

"Nope," Rosalie agreed with a similar expression.

"William and Maddy are going to go to Forks, huh?" Bella asked.

Emmett snickered and Rosalie nodded, "Our alma mater," he said.

Everyone got a chuckle out of the comment.

"Go Spartans! Yay!" Alice said.

"You going to let him play baseball there?" Edward joked.

Carlisle gave him a look and shook his head.

"I'm not serious."

"I think it'd be a great idea," Emmett said, smiling at his father.

"Well if you want a fight with the Volturi like you said, that'd be a good start," Carlisle told him lightly.

"Fine," he said, pretending to be disappointed.

"Forks High School..." Bella's voice drifted.

Edward squeezed her shoulder and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She smiled reactively to his touch as her thoughts replayed some of their earlier days together.

Carlisle nudged Esme and the two of them stood up, rejoining hands.

"Going to take a walk down at La Pushe," Esme told them.

"Spying on Masen?" Emmett joked, "Edward, want them to look after Renesme, too?"

They both laughed, "No," Carlisle said, "No worrying tonight."

"Ohhh," he said, "I gotcha then." He winked, "Remember the last night at the beach?"

Rosalie chuckled and threw her legs up over his, giving her parents a wave.

"Soft doctor's hands, remember," Jasper said, drawing another laugh and a high five from Emmett.

The two of them walked away from the rest of the family, ignoring the comments, though appreciating the lightness of their teasing all the same. The walked slowly for miles, eventually reaching their destination, staring up the rare, starry night sky.

Esme clung to Carlisle as they strolled through the sand, each enjoying the peaceful lapping sound of the waves as they met the beach.

"You really think there are no coincidences?" she asked, looking up at him.

Carlisle looked over at her, capturing the beauty in her happy, wondering face, "No. I don't."

"What about us? About the way we met that one time and you just happened to be in the right place at the right time to save me ten years later..."

He smiled, "I wouldn't call it a coincidence. I'd call it fate. I think your soul may have been as lost as mine, and the only way to make it right was to bring them together."

"So... you believe there's hope that we have souls afterall?" Her smile brightened the beach.

Carlisle stopped walking and brushed her hair back before pulling her face toward him with just a thumb and index finger on her chin so he could give her a kiss.

Esme smiled and immediately pushed up onto her toes to meet his level.

"After all we've been through," he said, "Yes. I do. Our family. Our children - born to us, or not, there's a reason. And I can't possibly believe that these things would happen for bad reasons. I don't think that Masen, Alex, William, Luciana... I honestly don't think they were brought her with a set up to fail before they were even born."

Esme continued to smile, "I agree, Carlisle."

"I love you," he told her, "You saved my soul. I'm convinced of that."

"Likewise," she kissed him again, "I love you, too."

He smiled back at her and took her hand as they walked on down the La Pushe beach. To each of them, at that moment, everything felt okay. Everything felt complete. And they owed that feeling to each other.