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Well this is it! I'm not quite ready to say goodbye, but these two kids need to get on with their lives.

So let's see how it ends, hmm?

Epilogue: Halloween, 2001

"Candy corn?" Edward asked.

I held up the family-sized bag in my left hand. "Check."

"Pumpkins?"

I raised my right hand. "Check."

"Popcorn?"

"And YooHoo. I think we're all set."

"Not quite." Edward wrapped his arms around my waist. "I'm hoping you have room for something sweeter."

"Recycling old lines, Mr. Masen?"

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

He bent to kiss me, and I melted against him, nearly dropping the bags of loot on the floor. No matter how many times it happened, I would never get over the wonder of kissing Edward. It was like coming home again and being welcomed with open arms.

Open arms and warm, soft lips.

"Ew!" Esme shuddered as she entered the kitchen. "Not in front of the snacks."

"You say that now." I stepped away from Edward and toward the lower cabinets to grab some bowls. "But you just wait a few years until…"

"You mean a few decades," Edward was quick to say. "Maybe even a half-century."

Esme plopped on a kitchen stool. "Eddie!"

"What?" He actually looked offended. "I don't see why you can't start dating when you're 60. By then, you'll have lived a full, boy-free life and really know what you want."

"You can't be serious!"

"He's kidding." I bumped him with my hip as I returned to the counter. "That or delirious."

Edward folded his arms. "I am neither."

"Yes, you are." I kissed his cheek. "But I'm okay with that."

"Mock all you want, woman, but I am resolved."

"But Eddie." Esme grabbed a handful of popcorn. "Didn't you and Leah start dating at my age?"

Edward looked up with wide eyes, and I smothered my laughter with a cough. "Bree's mother will be dropping her off soon," I said. "And she agreed to let her spend the night."

"Sweet!" Esme said. "I'm gonna wait on the porch."

Esme bounded out of the room, and Edward finally found his voice. "Were we really that young?"

"Not quite. We met at 11 and started dating at 14."

Edward grimaced. "She'll be 12 in five months!"

"Don't worry. It will be fine."

"Right. What do you think of a fine, all-girls Catholic school where the nuns are former Navy Seals?"

"I think you're nervous about Esme growing up. And I think that's adorable." I emptied the candy into a large bowls. "Oh, and I think that school sounds amazing."

He dragged a hand down his face. "I'm not ready for this."

"For what?"

"Esme talking about boys, dating boys. Doing anything with boys that involves boys. I'm just…not ready."

"I know. But that's okay because neither is she."

"How do you know?"

I lowered my voice. "Because I overheard her on the phone with the soon-to-arrive Bree yesterday."

"And?"

"And apparently Riley Biers has a crush on Bree and tried to kiss her cheek during lunch, but she moved out of the way, and he fell into the table."

"Poor kid. But good for Bree."

"Anyway, I overheard Leah say that if someone ever tried to kiss her, she'd kick him in the shins."

"That's my girl!" Edward's smile fell into confusion. "So why did she mention that we started dating at her age?"

"Because you're her big brother-slash-guardian, and using your life against you is her part-time job."

He came around to my side of the counter. "Thank God you're here to keep me sane."

"I'm only here for the snacks. And the arm candy."

"Oh, I know you're into candy." He wrapped his arms around my waist. "And I'm proud to be your favorite kind."

"You're my only kind." I reached behind him for a mellowcreme pumpkin. "With two yummy exceptions."

He chuckled as I fed him a piece. "I love you, Mrs. Masen."

"And I love you, Mr. Masen."

"Bree's here!" Esme bellowed.

"We're coming!" I yelled back. "I'll be there in a second."

With a wink, Edward loaded the huge snack tray and left the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

My happy, heady, Halloweeny thoughts.

Though the fiasco of our meeting at Ruth's Chris ended on a swoon-worthy high note, creating a viable relationship out of our circumstances proved challenging.

For one thing, Edward lived in Chicago, and I lived in Philadelphia. Both of us were invested in our current cities, Edward more so as Chicago was also Esme's home. She was doing well in school, had friends and a life she loved, and uprooting her was out of the question.

On top of that, I wasn't quite ready to throw myself into forever with Edward. He was certain of us, and I adored him for that, but I was still nervous.

"I know it's stupid," I'd said to Kate on a December date the following year. "But he left once, and it nearly crushed me. What if he does that again?"

"You really think he'd do that? After all he went through to get you back?"

"Stranger things have happened. I mean, look at you and Garrett."

Kate patted her round belly with a smile. "Tell me about it. Who gets pregnant with triplets on a surprise layover in Topeka?"

"And gets married in a tacky Vegas chapel two months later?"

"If this were someone else's life, it would be hilarious. Movie-of-the-week hilarious." She sipped her lemon water. "So let's look at this from that angle."

"Look at what?"

"Your fears about Edward. If this were the plot of a cheesy movie of the week, what would you want the heroine to do?"

"You can't be serious."

She plucked a crispy breadstick from the basket on the table. "You got any better ideas?"

I took my own breadstick and dipped it in the provided marinara, chewing it over.

If this were a movie, I would want the heroine to go for it. I would want her to toss off every fear about the past and embrace the love available to her right now. I would want her to fly to Chicago on wishful wings, show up at her beloved's door, and plant a saucy kiss on him when he opened the door.

Just the thought of it was enough to make me sigh with happiness.

But this wasn't a movie. This was my life. And there were no guarantees of Happily Ever After in real life. Didn't I learn that lesson already?

"There are no guarantees of anything," Kate muttered around her breadstick.

Had I spoken aloud? "Huh?"

"I know you, Clearwater. You're afraid to trust again because you want to be sure you won't get hurt, and that's impossible." She sipped her raspberry lemonade. "In fact, I can guarantee the opposite."

"What does that mean?"

"It means Edward will hurt you. He will say something stupid or forget something important or get in a foul mood and take it out on you. He will hurt you, disappoint you, anger you, and possibly take you for granted. And you will look at him and wonder what happened to the man you fell in love with."

The possibility alone made me sick to my stomach. "Why would you say that?"

"Because it's the truth. But you know what else is true?"

"What?"

"You will do the same to him. And there will be arguments and confusion and adjustments on and off for the rest of your lives. But that's real life, Leah. And along with the gooey, mushy stuff we dream of, that's what real love involves. So if you love Edward or even think you could love, you need to be willing to love him in real life."

I thought about Kate's wise words for days, wondering if I could put my whole heart on the line again with Edward and see if we could make it work. For real.

And as I looked at my current life, I could never be sorry I did.

The ringing phone shook me out of my thoughts, and I answered on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Ha, I knew you'd be home! You owe me $10!"

"I didn't say she wouldn't be home!" Felix cried in the background. "I said she'd be too busy with her groom to answer the phone."

"And you were wrong," Rosalie shouted back. "Either way, $10, buddy."

"Thanks for nothing, Leah," he replied.

"Tell Felix I miss him too." I sat on a bar stool by the counter. "Is everything okay? Why are you in the office so late?"

"Because I couldn't wait to tell you the news." She paused for effect. "We got the grant."

"You did?" I leapt off the stool. "For the full amount?"

"More. About fifteen percent more!" Her voice rose in excitement. "Leah, I can hardly believe it!"

"Me either!" This was the best news I'd heard all year. "So you're finally getting to expand the residential quarters."

"And early projection suggest we'll be able to support up to 100 more families per year, maybe as many as 120."

Happy tears pricked my eyes. "Oh, Rose. I… I could not be happier for you."

"I could have waited until next week to tell you, but…"

"No, I'm glad you didn't. This is fantastic news!"

"And as soon as I left that meeting, I knew you had to be the second person I told."

"Second?"

I heard her blush through the phone. "Well, Felix was there."

"Naturally." I shook my head. "I still cannot believe you guys are dating after all these years."

"I know, right? Will wonders never cease?"

Edward poked his head in. "Wheel of Fortune is about to go off."

"Be right there," I mouthed.

"Speaking of wonders." Rosalie chuckled under her breath. "How's Mr. Incredible?"

"Incredible." I couldn't keep the breathiness from my voice. "But I can tell you more about it next week."

"And don't you leave anything out."

"I won't. Call me the minute you get settled at the hotel, and congratulations!"

"Thanks, Leah. Enjoy your night!"

I could not have been happier for Rose and my first Ronald McDonald House family. She had been dreaming of this expansion since I met her, and to finally see it coming to pass…she must be over the moon.

Kinda how I felt since moving to Chicago two years ago.

A week after my date with Kate, I met with Rosalie to discuss my professional options. To my surprise, she anticipated this decision and had already spoken to her contacts in Chicago.

"From the moment you floated in here after that Halloween dinner, I knew this day would come." She slid some papers across the desk. "Here are the current openings for four Ronald McDonald Houses in the Chicago metro area. Look them over and tell me what looks good to you."

I tried to thank her for being so gracious, but she waved me off.

"Your heart has belonged to Edward since you were 11." Her gentle smile soothed my nerves. "This is a no-brainer."

Edward was thrilled when I called with my decision but calmed down long enough to ask if I had any doubts.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I mean, I'm about to jump out of my skin with joy, but I also respect your life in Philadelphia, and I would be happy to figure out…"

"Yes, I'm sure. I want to be close to you and get to know Esme and become part of your everyday lives, and I can't do that from Philadelphia. The thought of moving is a little scary, but it's right. And it's what I want."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, Edward. But I love you for being so concerned about my feelings."

The line went so silent I thought the call had ended. "You…you love me?"

"What?"

"You just said you…"

"Oh. So I did." And though my heart hammered in my chest at the news of my accidental confession, I couldn't regret the words or take them back.

In fact, I wanted to say them again.

"I do, Edward. Love you, I mean."

"And I love you, Leah. I always have."

And though that was the first time he said those words, it was nowhere near the last.

He said them when he met me at the airport two months later, lacing our frozen fingers together as he drove me to the apartment I'd leased around the corner from the house he shared with Esme.

He said them when he dropped to one knee at my parents' house after Thanksgiving dinner that same year, his green eyes shining with love as he offered his heart in the form of a question.

He said them as we stood at the altar the following summer as I clutched a bouquet of orange daisies with Kate, Rosalie, and Esme standing by my side with watery smiles.

He said them last night, this morning, a few minutes ago, and every other chance life given us.

And I never tired of hearing them.

"What are you doing in here?" The current Edward strolled into the kitchen. "Did something happen?"

"No. Just lost in happy thought about how this chapter of our lives began."

"You mean me wearing our first dinner all over my clothes?"

"No." I kissed him. "But I will cherish that memory forever."

"And that's what I plan to give you. Forever."

"Guys!" Esme called. "Come on!"

"We'd better get in there before she eats all the candy," I said.

"I wouldn't worry about that." Edward put his hands behind his back. "Now close those eyes."

With a little squeak, I did so, holding out eager hands. When I felt the familiar weight in my palms, I closed my fingers around the bundle and planted another kiss on my husband.

"I love you so much," I murmured between kisses. "Thank you for always making this day so special."

"Thank you for making my life so special," he said. "And for accepting Esme. She is so blessed to have you in her life."

"I feel the same way about her."

"You better not be kissing in there!" Esme cried out.

I groaned against his mouth. "Most of the time."

"Let's go before she disowns us. There will be plenty of time for kissing later on."

"You promise?"

"I swear on my love for polka-dotted tulle."

"Well in that case…" I slipped my hand into his. "Let's go."

And go we did, to a moment very much like the place where everything started: a cozy den on Halloween night with nothing much between us but popcorn, candy, and a love for The Great Pumpkin.

And we wouldn't have had it any other way.

And…SCENE! What do you think?

Finishing this story took much longer than I expected, but I thank you all SO MUCH for taking this journey with me. My Leah finally got her happy ending, and I hope you enjoyed the right as much as she did.

Love and light to you all! XO