October drew to a close. The days became shorter and the nights longer. And with every day a little more hope for answers died. There was no call from the Denalis. Dr. Cullen even tried to reach out again but his call was not answered.

The burden of the unknown combined with the sadness that always surrounded me like a veil at this time of year. The anniversaries of my own parents' deaths had passed. Elizabeth Masens and Edwards were still pending. Even though I had him by my side again, I could not shake the sadness at the approaching date.

I knew Edward worried when I was lost in my thoughts for too long. I saw the glances he exchanged with Jasper but I couldn't stop myself. He tried to help me as much as he could. Taking me in his arms and rocking me like a little child whenever I needed it. It was almost as if he had a special sense for my sadness. He always knew.

One night, three days before his death date, he decided to broach the subject.

We were in our meadow. He had braided me another flower crown from the last standing wildflowers of the year and attempted to make one for the unborn child in my belly as well, though the flowers would long be withered when the baby would be born.

"Bella," he began softly, "I have tried to give you time. Whatever it is you are unhappy about, I wanted you to come to me on your own. I wanted to give you the chance to tell me by your own choice. But I can't sit by any longer. Love, it pains me to see you suffering. And we have promised each other to be open and share those things. Will you please tell me what pains you so?"

I sighed and let my eyes wander. "October is a sad month."

Edward furrowed his brow. "Would you explain that to me?"

I reluctantly turned to look at him. "My parents died on the 9th and the 13th of October. Those dates have already passed. But on the 20th October 1918 I lost the last two people I loved." I sighed heavily. "Your death date is approaching, Edward."

He nodded in understanding. "I wish I could go back and change what happened. I wish I could keep you with me. I wish I could alter the last hundred years and save you from the sadness that weighs on you still."

I reached out and touched the back of his hand, feeling the muscles work under my skin as Edward continued to weave intently. "Edward, do not dwell on those possibilities. What happened happened. And I am certain God had a plan when he first separated and then reunited us. We just don't understand it yet. And we may never. But we do have an eternity to try. Together."

He looked up from the flower crown and smiled at me. "I promise you will not lose me again, Bella. Never again."

"Good." I smiled back.

Silence encompassed the meadow as Edward wove in the last flowers before gently placing it in the dry grass.

"Every year I came back to your grave in Chicago." I told him thoughtfully. "I never missed a year. All this time I stood at an empty grave. And you were still out there, suffering from our separation."

Edward pulled me into his arms, holding me close against his chest. "Why don't we go there together this year, love? Perhaps it will help you to release some of your grief. I know that your grip on your grief is just as damaging as my habit of placing the blame for our time apart on myself."

"You would want to do that?" I searched his face.

"If you think it will help, love." He nodded. "You must know by now that I would do anything for you."

"Thank you, Edward."

He kissed the top of my head, "I love you, Bella."

"And I love you. Always."

We left school early on Thursday to catch our flight to Chicago. Except for flirtatious flight attendants and passengers the journey went smooth. Edward had arranged a rented car for us and I silently watched the changed city go by my window. It was strange to see the changes every year. And this year was no different. With time the buildings of my true youth got replaced by newer builds. One by one. I dreaded the day none of the old architecture would be left. Would it continue to be the same city to me if nothing would be as it once was? When my memories were the only place the old Chicago would still exist.

Edward parked the car in front of a house that was so very familiar to me. My eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Edward, why are we here?"

"This is where I grew up." He shrugged. "I thought we could spend a night here."

"I know." I said. "But why are we here? Did you want to see it? We should have contacted the owners beforehand. Don't you think they would think it strange if we just rang the bell and wanted to come in for a while?"

"I don't think the owner would find it strange." He chuckled. "Because I am the owner."

My eyes widened. "You saved it?"

He nodded. "After your disappearance Carlisle made me pose as a distant relative of myself and I inherited it all. My parents' house. Your parents' house. The house my parents gave us for our wedding. And everything within. But I never came back. Carlisle thought I would regret losing the inheritance if I didn't do it then. And now that I sit here with you I am finally agreeing."

"Why don't we go in then?" I could not hold back my enthusiasm.

Edward laughed softly and nodded. After helping me out of the car he led me to the front door and handed me the key. "You do the honors."

The door creaked when I opened it, but the grand interior it revealed felt like a step back in time. Nothing had changed. It was just as I had left it almost ninety years ago. The same entrance table holding the family photographs, the same carpet, the same mirror on the wall. I silently stepped inside, looking around before reverently brushing my hands over the old wallpaper.

"It's just as it was." I whispered, my voice filled with awe.

"I feel like my parents could walk through the door anytime." Edward agreed.

I step closer to the table. Taking a look at the old photographs. There was one of Edward as a baby in the arms of his mother. Both smiling. Already his smile is crooked. One was from Edwards parents´ wedding and one from ours. Even though, just like my own parents, his had never agreed with our choice to marry Elizabeth Masen had still put up the photograph.

"Do you want to rediscover the rest of the house?" he asked.

"Of course." I nodded and grabbed his hand. "We should go to the cemetery tomorrow."

And we did.

It was a rainy day. The wind whipped and pulled on my hair and clothes but I did not feel the cold. The graveyard was close and we decided to walk there.

I showed Edward the all too familiar path between the old and gray gravestones that lead to his grave. His family's gravestones were the cleanest. Every year I wiped away the signs of aging and placed seeds to sprout in spring.

It was a spot I knew too well.

Edward's grip on my hand tightened as he looked down at the names etched in stone.

For the first time I stood with Edwards hand in mine. Reading the names I knew by heart. Edward Masen Sr., Elizabeth Masen and Edward Masen Jr..

I stepped closer to his gravestone, reaching out to touch the cool, damp surface. "Never, not in a hundred years, would I have ever dared to hope that this moment would happen." I told him softly.

Edward closed the distance between us and placed his smooth hand on my shoulder. Offering me silent comfort.

"Every year, on this day, I came here. I stood by an empty grave and talked to you as if you could hear me. I told you about my life, about the world, about everything that had happened. It was my way of keeping you close." I said. "And now you are here with me, Edward."

"And next year our child will be with us, love." He added, his hand brushing my growing stomach. "We will be introducing them to its grandparents."

I smiled at the thought. "We should inform your parents that they will become grandparents shortly, no?"

Edward nodded enthusiastically and faced the gravestones of his parents. Straightening up and taking a deep breath he ran his hands through his hair. Messing it up even further than it was before. "Hello Mother, Hello Father…" he sighed heavily. "I am not quite sure what to say. It has been so long and so much has happened. Mother, you will be pleased to know that Carlisle did in fact save me. Both yours and Bella's pleas for my life convinced him to make me into an immortal being. That decision separated me from Bella for almost ninety years until we found each other again in the most unlikely of places, a small town called Forks in Washington. I am sure you know how Bella has been doing. After all, she visited all our graves every year. I did not. And I apologize for never visiting. I will do better in the future and now that Bella is back by my side she will keep me to that promise."

I chuckled.

"She has saved me. Again, I might add. Even though Carlisle created a family around me I was deeply depressed while I thought Bella had died. But the moment I saw her again my life became meaningful again. She pulled me from the edge and gave me back hope and love."

He turned to look me in the eyes. I met his gaze. Mirroring all the love and awe and gratitude.

Edward continued, his voice soft and filled with sincerity, "Bella, is my light, my reason for existing. Without her, I was lost in a world of darkness. But she found me again, and saved me. And she gave me the most amazing gift I never knew to ask for. She is carrying my child. She has already made me her friend, lover, husband and king of the meadow,"

Both of us could not help but laugh.

When Edward had calmed himself he continued solemnly, "But she will also make me a father."

He turned back to face his parents' graves. "I know it's been a long time since we last spoke, but I hope you can see how happy we are now. And I hope you would have been happy for us if you were here to see. I know neither you nor Bella's parents wanted this match, but I can't imagine anyone but Bella by my side. I hope our happiness would have been enough for you."

"We will always carry your memory in our hearts." I added in a whisper.

"I wish they could have met their grandchild in person." Edward said.

I nodded seriously, "I would wish the same, Edward. But I believe they're watching over us, and in their own way they will see. And when we return next year we will show them the baby. They will be part of its life."

We continued to stand there for a while. Silently chasing memories of our first life. Our clothes were entirely drenched by the time we made our way back to Edwards childhood home. But I could see that a weight had been lifted from Edwards shoulders. And I was almost certain of mine as well.

Both of us needed this visit to the past.