Standard Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable from Twilight, I just love adding my own toys to the sandbox. Any mistakes are my own. Enjoy.
Also, in case there's an issue '….' = December's thoughts 😊
Thank you to those who have favorited/followed.
Note: Epilogue time. As promised. Hope you enjoyed this story. I have another one in the works. Keep a look out. Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. Remember, always be thankful, even for the small things,
Epilogue
A Legacy Passed Down
10 years later…
"You're cheating!" Nathan said as he ran.
"You're just a slow poke in your old age," December said going faster.
Nathan and December were training in the woods outside the Cullen home. The Cullens had moved near Jasper's and December's cabin. For the time being it allowed all of them to feed, train, and just become a family. December initially didn't like Carlisle and his beliefs being shoved down everyone's throats. But he did agree that everyone had a choice. And whatever that choice was, he would respect it as long as morals were not forgotten.
So even though some have decided to return to human blood, there were those that stayed feeding off animals. Emmett, Rose, Jasper and December fed off humans, while everyone else stayed on animals.
That's not all that's changed in ten years. Nathan, the hunter, is now twenty-two years old. A man and a worthy soul for the next hunter. December's taught him everything show knows, and even a few tricks she's learned as a vampire.
"You can't run away from marriage Em, he'll find you," Nathan smirked as he ran beside December. She immediately stopped.
She sighed, "I'm not running away, I'm just…."
"Nervous," he finished for her putting his hand on her shoulder.
She looked at him. Almost a mirror of herself, except male and short hair. Even though her mom had the red hair, seems it ran in her dad's family as well. But the eyes, the eyes said all.
"I would run after her too, if she did what you were doing this second," he smiled.
December smiled back. She knew he would, because she knew Jasper was nearby. She could sense him.
"I just needed to clear my head, let's head back. Guess I MUST put a dress on," December rolled her eyes and started making her way back. It was her wedding day after all.
As Nathan broke off to join the men at the Cullen house, December made her way back to her and Jasper's cabin where the women were.
"Ember finally! Alice is having a meltdown," Bella and Charlette said at the same time as they both grabbed December's hands and vamp rushed upstairs to sit her down.
"Oh my gosh calm down, I'm here, I'm here," December sighed with her eyes big.
"We have exactly one hour, and we have to do everything!" came Alice's voice as she came in with the dress. "My work needs to be my vision times one hundred, now go, go, go!" Alice said shoving the dress to December.
"Ok, ok, geez," December said as she took the dress and went into the bathroom. "Annoying Pixie."
"You love me," Alice smiled.
"Now I know what you put Bella through. I was ok with something small for crying out loud," December said through the door as she got dressed. "Plus, this dress Alice, I said no white."
"It's cream, get over it." Alice pushed her bottom lip out.
"It's form fitting," December continued to mumble.
"Hey, hey, you have a knockout figure, I'm not wasting it in something too big!" Alice sat and folded her arms with a pout. Clearly a little frustrated with December's complaints.
"Ok, ok, neutral corners people." Rose said as she was getting December's shoes. Which were dark cream colored flats and handing them to Bella. Alice did love December after all. She'd give in a little. Just a little.
"Ok," December sighed as she emerged from the bathroom in her dress. Flattening it out as she walked through.
"Beautiful my dear," Esme said as she hugged December.
"Ember your figure is envious for a vampire you know, I'm not used to competition," Rose smirked.
December looked at her, "Esme's fault for fattening me up before the change."
"Healthy looking my dear, healthy looking." Esme shook her finger at December.
"You're a bad ass Ember, get over it. Beautiful bad ass babe," Charlette said as Bella wiggled the shoes in front of December before placing them down.
"I'm glad I can't cry," December said as she slipped her feet into her shoes.
"Now this hair. This long, long, long hair," Alice said fingering December's long hair and she put her other finger of her other hand on her lips in thought.
"I have an idea," came Renesmee's voice as she entered the room with a jewelry box. She set it down and opened it. December's eyes widened.
"Remember when I went through a Celtic phase a few years ago and bought a bunch of Celtic hair clips? Well, I guess it's a good thing I kept them. You are more than welcome to use them. Think of it as something borrowed." Renesmee finished, smiling.
December scrunched her face in a suspicious fashion, "you're not trying to butter up your future mother-in-law, are you?" she asked teasingly. She adopted her nephew when he turned fifteen. He didn't remember much of his past before Crowley took and tortured him enough to where all his memories of his parents' prior were forgotten. Although he remembered emotions, good ones, he can't remember their faces. He immediately took to December, as a mother figure. The bond was just there. Neither one could describe it. They both knew she couldn't replace the mother he did have, but she would love and care for him just as much as if she was his mother. Plus, the hunter soul helped form the bond even more.
Renesmee faked shock. "Me?" she pointed to herself, "of course not." She paused, "but it couldn't hurt right?"
Everyone laughed.
"You and Nathan are destined apparently. So even if I were against it, it doesn't matter. But I'm not. You two, along with Jasper and the others, are my blessing." December finished hugging Renesmee. "Now, you all work your magic with my hair. But I would like some of it down, not all up."
"Rose, let's get to work," Alice said grabbing some clips as Rose starting braiding.
After about fifteen minutes, the hair was done. It was done in a Celtic design with difficult braiding techniques and one main clip added in. Some side clips and jewels ran through to make it more ethereal.
December stood up and went to the floor length mirror. "You guys really outdone yourselves." She turned herself in a circle to get a full look. "Minimal is not a word in your dictionary is it Alice," December said more as a statement than a question. Alice just shrugged her shoulders with a big smile.
There was music that started playing downstairs.
"Well, that's the signal. A fast hour I say," Bella said getting everyone's flour bouquets and handing them to everyone. She handed December's to her and whispered, "at least you don't have monstrosity heals to walk in like I did."
Alice of course heard. "Hey, I gave you a simple dress, of course you get big heals. I gave her, "pointing at December, "a beautiful dress, she gets simple shoes."
Everyone giggled and started making their way downstairs. Since there were large windows along the staircase, they were covered with sheer fabric, so no one saw inside.
Once downstairs and out the back door, it was a small distance to a clearing that the Cullens made just for this moment. December and Jasper never saw the area until today. Alice wanted the 'wow' moment for both. She decorated it with a bunch of fairy lights and vines. She invited friends of the family. All vampires of course. No humans. Except for the orchestra but they were under a strict contract by Mr. Jenkins. A family friend who endeavors in much of what the Cullens and Jasper needed throughout the years as far as paperwork.
Once down the path and December could see a bit more of everything she gasped.
"Alice! A symphony orchestra! Are you nuts?!" December seethed.
Bella had her shield up knowing December's temper with surprises. Everyone knew her temper with surprises.
"If you're mad at that, wait until you hear your entrance song," Renesmee mumbled as she lined up behind her mother, who also snickered.
"I'll rip you all to shreds when this is over." December mumbled. Fixing her dress out of anxiety.
"You love us all." Replied Bella winking at December. Just then the music started and December realized what it was and glared at Alice.
"You pixie," December whispered.
A few seconds into the song (symphony orchestra version of Christina Perry's 'A Thousand Years'), the girls started walking down the aisle.
"Breathe beautiful," came a voice she didn't expect.
She turned around and saw Caius.
"You said you wouldn't," December mumbled.
"Aro and Marcus convinced me. Will you still have me, walk with you?" Caius said. He never looked so vulnerable.
"Like I could say no to you brother," she replied putting her arm through his and they began their walk.
As they walked, she noted the petals on the ground, the lights hanging through the trees, the vines everywhere. Alice really out did herself. It was sunset. The girls made their way down the aisle slowly. As December and Caius made their way to the end of the aisle, the lights, petals, vines, everything continued to where the podium was. The music continued and they made their way down the aisle.
Once her eyes fell on Jasper, it was done. Jasper also didn't breathe for what felt like an eternity. Not that he needed to. Everyone who looked between the bride and groom felt the love. The pure, the unhindered, the only once in a lifetime type of love. Eyes only for each other, the bride made her way to her groom.
Once Caius passed her hand to Jasper's, they made their way up the two steps to Edward. Who, surprisingly volunteered to officiate the wedding. To show his gratitude to December who helped save Bella's life that day with Victoria. Which seemed like a lifetime ago now.
As December and Jasper faced each other she looked out over the not-so-small crowd. Some Volturi, Denali, Irish, Nomads, Amazonian, Egyptian and other covens. Family made throughout the years. December brought the covens together that day with Renesmee. She looked at Nathan who was one of Jasper's best men. He was obviously staring at Renesmee. Then she glanced at Renesmee, who was looking back at Nathan. The same look she knows she and Jasper share is the one mirrored in those two. 'As ever', December thought.
She looked back to Jasper who just stood with his stupid sexy smirk.
As the music became quieter everyone sat down and Edward started, "We've gathered here today, to share a once in a lifetime moment. Many do not find their soulmate in a lifetime. Most of us here have had many lifetimes. Some of us have found that one person, others have yet to. But this should be taken as a token that no matter how long it takes, do not give up hope. You can find that person in the most unexpected places." December and Jasper chuckled at that. "May we have the rings please," Edward gestured to the best man and maid of honor, who happened to be Peter and Bella, respectively. The rings happened to be made of the same material as Decembers engagement ring. Meteorite.
December heard Alice's sigh. She smirked.
"Something has to be dark colored Alice," December whispered. There were chuckles all around.
Each took their respective partners' rings. "Jasper, you may say your vows at this time," Edward said.
Jasper let out a big breath, "Ember. No vow that I make will be enough to describe how I feel for you. But from today on, I will be your husband. I am already your soulmate. You took my heart the moment you coughed up your drink that day in the cafeteria." He smirked.
"You jerk," December said smiling. More chuckles could be heard.
"Vampire Huntress, regular human, vampire, I would have you no matter what you were. This day onward is full of new adventures, and a never-ending love. I am yours, mind, body, soul, everything that makes me darlin', forever and on." Jasper finished as he slipped the ring on December. She smiled.
Edward nodded, smiling, "December, your turn."
December took Jasper's ring, she sighed. "Jasper. Just like you, no vow I make will be good enough. But also like you, I can't deny that our love needs to be voiced. I vow from this day forward to be your wife. I'm already your soulmate. I will be honest I didn't want to fall. A vampire was my prey, love my fear. Those two collided in a way I never thought possible. But damn that sexy smirk of yours made my heart fall apart. Slowly you peeled away at the armor I had. Everything that is you, made that armor melt every second of every day since we first formally met in the woods that night. I didn't want to see it. Or believe it. Jasper Whitlock, I am yours. I've always been yours." She slipped the ring on his finger. "A thousand lifetimes will never be enough for the love we share and will continue to share."
Edward took that as his que. "Everyone here be witness to this incredible moment we have here today. If anyone objects, voice now or forever hold your peace."
"If anyone objects, I'll rip their head off," Caius murmured. There were no chuckles this time as everyone knew he was serious.
"Peace brother," Aro sighed patting one of Caius's arms.
There was a small smirk from Marcus though.
A few moments passed, "well, that be said, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride Major," Edward said.
December and Jasper kissed, and it was so light, so pure, that was 'their' moment. Everyone clapped.
"I now give you all, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Whitlock," Edward gestured clapping his hands.
Everyone stood up and clapped.
December took that time to look around at everyone she held dear to her heart. She never thought this was going to be her life. She walked down the steps and down the aisle and looked back. She looked again at Nathan who smiled at her as he stood beside Renesmee who winked at her as well as smiled. She looked at Nathan who was her legacy. She knew the line of the hunter will continue.
"Our legacy will continue my love," Jasper said.
It hit her then, not just her legacy, but theirs. It is theirs now.
"Our legacy," she stated and kissed Jasper again.
Look out for my next story, 'Double Swanned', see you then :)