AN: This is the end. There shall be no more.

Thank you all for reading.

Chapter 16

One Year Later

"Dad, you need to stay still." I moved my dad's head to face the mirror. "There's nothing to see out that window."

My dad was fidgety and I knew all he wanted to do was escape the chair I stuck him in.

His response was to glare in the mirror at me.

"Dad—"

"I could just see Bob. He's safer. Years of experience with these things," Dad stated.

He was a stubborn, old coot.

I sighed. "Dad, Bob retired and went on a cruise with Gladys."

"He can do it when he gets back." He's not very trusting of my skills yet. If he just looked at my wall to see my newest diploma next to the others you would think he would be calmer. I was head of my class again. I'm always the head of my class. It's what's called being a super studier.

Only this time with scissors and gel.

I had been open for business for a couple of months and my own father wasn't willing to bow down to my styling superiority. I hope he likes his bad cooking, because there was no way I would be inviting him over for dinner with the way he was behaving. I wouldn't be cooking him anything. Actually, Edward would be cooking. He had magic fingers in the kitchen and, to be truthful, everywhere else.

"Dad, I beg of you, let me finish this up. The more you squirm, the more time it takes me to finish." I then mistakenly added, "It won't be my fault if I accidentally cut off your ear. You can take up painting like Van Gogh."

"Who?"

"The painter who did the sunflower painting, Dad." I watched as his face remained clueless. "You've had to have seen A Starry Night."

My dad started spinning the chair. "I like those dogs playing poker. That's real art."

Of course, he would. He had that painting hanging over his bed. No wonder he almost never had a date. There was always that older woman, Gianna that I hired to wash hair. She liked to baby people and make spaghetti sauce. I had noticed her batting her eyelashes at my dad. I think my matchmaking skills would work perfectly for them.

He was lonely and watched Murder She Wrote reruns by himself. She was lonely and baked enough cookies to feed an army to combat the blues. Together they could be a power couple that would watch old television programs from the eighties and eat baked goods. It was a match made in heaven.

"Why don't you work your evil trimming powers on that boy of yours? He seems to be getting a bit hairy in the back," my father teased. He started chuckling so hard that he began to choke.

"Ha, Ha. I just cut his hair yesterday, Dad. It was a little early for him. He really didn't need it." I poured some water for him and handed him the glass. "Drink this."

One sip and Dad's face puckered up in distaste. "Are you trying to poison me? This is terrible stuff."

"Its cucumber and lemon infused! It's been a big hit!" I folded my arms and leaned against the counter. "If you would please let me finish up! I would like to get some lunch before Angela comes in for highlights."

"Oh you can't, because—" My dad looked flustered for a minute. It was so odd. "I really like what you did to this place. You can't even tell it was a tacky bar."

Jane had helped me buy Aro's bar from him after he lost the majority of his customers to overpriced drinks and bad disco music that was blaring from the expensive sound system he had put in here. At the end of his business venture, the only person he had buying anything was Emmett who had continued boycotting Jane's bar and was living in a van that was parked at the town's grocery store after Rosie kicked him out. I didn't feel too bad for him, because it would take a miracle for that idiot to learn a lesson. Rosie has the patience of a saint.

I loved my little place and Jane was a fabulous partner. Instead of disco, we had the soothing sounds of Enya filling the rooms. The colors of the salon were of the earth and inspired by Edward's love of the outdoors. We had manicure nights with alcoholic drinks provided by Jane and Tanya was the bartender. She was surprisingly good and her martinis had the added bonus of making you feel amorous after drinking. I really needed that recipe.

Aro and his brothers now were running an ice cream truck that specialized in free balloon animals. It was popular with the kids and they already looked like clowns. I believed that was a winning combination.

"Yup. Yup. Yup." My dad was talking very slowly. "Nice job, kiddo. It looks real good."

He was up to something.

"What are you up to, Daddy?"

My dad opened his eyes wide trying to look innocent. "When is a compliment being devious?"

His mustache twitched. That old man was a liar.

"Dad—"

The little bell rang on the door and I turned to find Edward strutting into the salon. He held a bouquet of tulips and a large, paper bag.

It felt like every movement he made was in slow motion. It wasn't hard to figure out what he was up to. Edward had paired his jeans with a tee-shirt that looked like a tuxedo.

He went right down onto his knee.

I looked at my dad who was grinning like a loon and back to my Edward who had a matching cheesy grin on his face.

"Isabella Marie Swan, can I put a ring on it?" He held out a plastic pink ring that had a giant, purple rhinestone on it.

There was only one answer to something put so romantically. "Cool. When we doing this?"

"Now. I have your dress and veil in the bag. Your dad will be taking you to the wedding destination after you change," Edward stated as put the ring on my finger and stood.

"Is this destination going to be Bermuda?" I inquired.

Edward shook his head with a smirk. "The park."

"Good plan, because I don't like sand in my toes."

My dad just watched us and continued to chuckle.

"I knew that about my girl," Edward gave me a wink.

I held out my hand to shake his and said, "Nice doing business with you, sir. I shall see you soon for our forthcoming nuptials."

With the quick movements of a cheetah, Edward pulled me into his arms and kissed me hard. His hands squeezed my butt.

"I like things a little more personal, baby," he explained after he finished attacking my mouth. Edward turned to my father. "Sir, sorry for the display but your daughter needed a reminder of my affection for her."

"Keep her in line, son." My dad sat down and picked up an issue of Glamour magazine. He really did like Edward better than me. "Get ready, Bell. You have a wedding to be the bride for."

XXXXXX

The wedding itself was pretty predictable in some ways. We made up our own vows. Mine were made up on the spot, so there was some stammering and I think the poetry I quoted from Elizabeth Barrett Browning wasn't completely correct. The weird looks that Angela gave me made me certain that I screwed up the majority of it. That wasn't like me, but to be truthful, I was a tad nervous.

Edward's speech was perfect. Full of words of love and devotion that made me want to have sex with him under the awning of willow trees. He was quite the sexy bastard. I was a lucky girl.

The flowers arrangements were from plants grown by Edward. They made the park look it was filled with baskets of rainbows. Our friends and family were sneezing from the overabundance of pollen. They seemed happy through the tissues that they held over their noses. Of course, they were now scarfing down free food at the reception. That would probably explain how the made it through the ceremony.

Alice and Esme were sniffling, but Carlisle was even worse. His crying was so loud it was hard to hear Rosalie. Who would have ever guessed she was a Justice of the Peace?

I wore a simple, white sundress and was barefoot in the grass. The only thing that jazzed up my look was the sparkling and glowing pink veil that Edward made me wear. It was probably more appropriate for a bridal shower at a strip club.

It was perfect.

"Are you happy, Swan?" Jane asked putting her arm around me. "Or should say Cullen?"

I tipped my water glass at her. "Don't be silly. It will be Swan-Cullen. I have my to keep my feminist ideals."

"I can't wait to be a bride!" Alice trilled happily. I saw her look at Jasper who was animatedly speaking to Edward and Garrett next to the band. The band which was playing cover songs of Tori Amos music. My man really knew the way into my heart.

I put my arm around her. "Don't rush it. When you finally do get married, make it easy on yourselves. There's no reason to get stressed."

"I want a horse drawn carriage!" She exclaimed and started hopping up and down.

There was no way to convince that kid of anything. I heard that Jasper was planning on asking her to marry him on Valentine's Day, because they were both cheesy. Alice was going to be a Bridezilla terror. I wonder if Edward would be willing to move until after its over.

"Alice, could you go over and try to save Angela from Carl. I seriously doubt she wants him to be blabbing to her why she's trying to breast feed Jared," Jane suggested. "Also, tell Tanya to stop staring at Ang's breasts. The poor thing is trying to take care of her child and my girlfriend is ogling her."

"That's something I would never think I would hear at a wedding, but since its mine it kind of makes perfect sense, Jane."

Jane snorted. "Can I get you something from the buffet? I need to get Alec to refill the buffalo wings. I know you have a love for onion rings."

My wedding banquet was bar finger foods. It was very popular and the majority of the guests were hovering by the food tables. The plastic lobster bibs that Jane provided were a nice added touch. The amount of hot sauce that was dripping down people's chins was impressive. There was mounds of it all over the grass.

"I'm fine. My stomach has been a little messed up," I admitted.

Jane threw an arm around my shoulder and gave me a hug. "Wedding excitement is all that is. You'll be ready to eat a little later. I'll make sure to save you some to enjoy with Edward in bed."

I rolled my eyes. She was a nut.

"Bella?" Rosalie came up pulling Emmett behind her. They were both in their versions of formal attire. Her red dress looked like it was painted on and her hair was so puffed up with hairspray that I thought I saw a small bird nesting in it.

Emmett's powder blue tux was too tight and some of the buttons had popped off. He was something else. What that something was could be debated.

"Thank you for performing the ceremony, Rose. It was beautiful!" Once you got to know her, Rosalie was quite kind and loving. It just took a really long time to get to that point.

"You're welcome! Emmett and I have a wedding present for you," she explained and handed me a pair of scissors. It looked like a pair of children's safety scissors with its primary colored handle.

"What's this?" I wondered.

Emmett looked sick. "Please no, Rosie!"

"It will be a present for both of us. Cut the mullet, Bella," she instructed. "No chickening out, Em. You came up with this idea and you promised."

"I just wanted to move back into the house, baby!" He cried out.

Rosalie smiled evilly. "Then chop, chop."

"Fine," he whimpered.

It was the best wedding day present ever!

I took that straggly clump of hair and hacked at it with the blunt pair of shears. After ten minutes of me cutting and Emmett weeping, the mass of stringy hair came off into my hands.

He grabbed it and held onto it like it was his teddy bear. Emmett stroked it with tear in his eyes. That man was a giant baby.

A feeling of completeness came over me. It was a wedding day miracle.

XXXXXX

Edward and I sat on a bench overlooking the pond. Behind us, our friends were dancing and eating. It was the sounds of joy and it made me happy that I could call this crazy community my family.

"You happy?" he asked. His head rested on mine.

"I am. You?"

He tightened his hold. "I don't think I was happy until you came into my life."

"You're such a sap," I teased. "I love it, but you're definitely the one with more estrogen in the relationship."

"I'm good with that," he stated. "Wine?"

"I'll stick with my seltzer." I nuzzled into his neck.

Edward stroked my arm. "We head off to Maine for the honeymoon on Thursday. Jane is taking care of the shop."

"Can we push it back to Friday or later on Thursday? After lunch maybe? We have an appointment." I kissed him before he could ask why. Pulling away, I held his face in my hands. "I'm so very glad you asked me to marry you today and we finally did it. After James I was so scared to try again, but you are the perfect person to be married to. I was going to ask you myself actually. You know how I like to mess around with the rules."

Two lines this morning made up my mind for me, and those six additional plus signs, but I would have gotten around to it anyway.

"Really?" He kissed my nose. "That's wonderful! What made you decide to ask?"

"I'm pregnant."

His eyes widened and then a smile appeared.

I added, "Surprise."

Edward grinned bigger and leaned down to kiss my stomach. "That's my girl and my baby."

Sometimes you can plan your life since you were a little girl and be so very certain that it will follow the script. When it all falls apart you might think that there's nothing left and there's nothing left to look forward to. But let me tell you a secret, the most amazing way to live is to embrace the unexpected and forge a new path that will make you actually happy.

My unexpected was a green-eyed man with horrible hair.

I wouldn't change a single minute.

The End.