Epilogue – Ten Years Later
After spending a few months abroad, Bella and Klaus were returning to Washington to visit Charlie and the wolves. It stunned Bella when she first learned the depth of Klaus's worldwide reach and business dealings. It kept them quite busy.
She was so excited to see her dad again. Bella was forever her daddy's little girl.
Bella thought about the crazy changes from becoming a traditional vampire like Klaus to forming new alliances with the wolf pack and a few other shifter clans across the United States.
Unlike the Cold Ones, Traditional Vampires couldn't survive on animal blood alone, nor were they 'venomous.' Fortunately, the art of 'compelling' humans when necessary was second nature, as was her incredible self-control. She had yet to kill a human by drinking from them and had no intention of ever doing so. She still ate and drank human food, as well. Her heart still beat, and thankfully, her wolves loved her just as much - even if she didn't smell the same.
Klaus held her close to his side, watching the whales from the ferry. Bella was busy, staring at him instead, grateful to have a mate who understood her, completed her, and encouraged her love of family. They didn't always agree, but they had learned to compromise. His infamous temper never got directed at her and remained wholly in check under her influence. Somehow, Bella found she loved Klaus more now than ever. He'd also grown to truly love and admire her father, a blessing in its own right.
He once offered to change both Charlie and Tiffany. That trip to Louisiana had been the catalyst they needed to be together. They had nearly agreed to let him turn them since Embry and Quil could live exceptionally long lives if they continued phasing, and Bella would live forever with Klaus. But they couldn't bear to watch all of their friends pass away and make more, only to have the same fate. So, after much consideration, they refused, wanting to grow old together.
Also, Charlie was a creature of habit. He could not just pack up and leave every few years. Life on the run had prepared Bella for such a life, and she loved living hers out with Klaus.
They just had one stop before they made it to Forks for their visit. Lake Pleasant held both terrible and extraordinary memories. It had been the place that changed her life irrevocably twice. She had wished so hard that things would have been different when Jessica died.
Exiting the car, Bella walked to the edge of the forest, a bouquet of Jessica's favorite flowers, gerbera daisies, clutched in her hands. Bella laid them gently in the dirt where they'd found Jessica's body. Bella had long replaced the visual of Jessica in her death state with memories of her healthy, spunky self - but red buds in the surrounding Amaranth were a subtle reminder.
"Hey, Jess. I just thought it was time I stopped by to say thanks. I know neither of us thought our lives would work out like this, with yours cut off too soon and mine… Well, I once thought we would all grow old together and be the friends that got in trouble in the nursing home someday. You'd be chasing Mike around with your walker, and I don't know what I'd have been doing besides laughing at you two. It's strange, in hindsight. Part of me feels like you helped lead me to Klaus, somehow. I'll never regret meeting or loving him, but I will always regret losing you. Anyway, Jess, I miss you. I think of you often. Thanks for watching over us."
As Bella stood, she brushed her knees off and then blew a kiss to the heavens. Then, she turned and walked back to where Klaus waited for her.
She climbed into the car and shut the door before lacing her fingers with his. "Thanks for stopping here."
He brought her knuckles to his lips and placed a loving kiss there. "Isa, I'll always do what I can to make you happy. I love you."
She leaned across the console and put her head on his arm. "I know it. You show me every day. I love you, too."
"Shall we go see Charlie?"
"Yes! I can't wait to tell him about Egypt and the pyramids, though I dread rehashing where we ran into the rest of the Cullens. That was so awkward."
He chuckled lowly, wearing the devious smirk she adored so much. "It was, wasn't it? We don't have to bring them up if you don't want to. I'll follow your lead."
"We'll play it by ear. If it comes up, fine."
They drove, remaining silent as Bella drew light circles over the back of Klaus's hand with her fingertips, earning the occasional shiver and amused glance along the way.
Charlie met them at the door and pulled them inside when they arrived, hugging them tightly. "Bells, Klaus! It's great to see you both again. I missed you guys."
"We missed you, too, Dad. You still look amazing. Just a little grayer around the edges," Bella said, motioning to his hair.
"I've been told it makes me look distinguished." He winked at Tiffany, who grinned.
Bella hugged her stepmother as well, then called a greeting to Embry, Quil, and Nina. Nina had grown into a beautiful young lady with long, straight blonde hair and blue eyes that sparkled with joy and orneriness. Regardless of genetics, she was Quil's daughter through and through - with a touch of Embry's sweetness to keep her grounded.
The family gathering they shared later was loud and full of love. Near the end of dinner, Quil said, "You guys will never guess who wrote to the tribe recently." Chuckling at Klaus and Bella's blank stares, he continued, "The Cullens. They wanted permission to return to the area. Not to Forks, but Spokane. They asked since they learned it's part of the territory we patrol since they've gone. Of course, we told them to stay the hell away. We need no more of them here. We don't need them retriggering the gene for the next generation. There are too many teenagers around here right now."
Bella was relieved the wolves said no. Her family wouldn't be safe with Cold Ones near for any extended period. High school still took four years, and she would feel the need to stay close to protect their loved ones. Klaus had trained her well, and although she would never be as strong as him, she could hold her own in a fight.
Sighing, she said, "We ran into them in Venice. We had just concluded a business dinner, when who should we find waiting for us by his car? The Cullens." Bella pushed her food around her plate before continuing, "They wanted to apologize for leaving me alone all those years ago. Seeking me out after all that time makes more sense now. They likely believe I'm the reason you all said no."
When she hesitated to continue, Klaus said, "You men would have been proud of Isa. She let them have it. Really told them off."
"I just told them to fuck themselves. I wasn't interested in their apologies." Smirking, she said, "Esme tried to chastise me for my language, but I told her to shut up. While I hold no ill will toward them, and they funded much of my escape, they didn't belong in my life. That money only helped me run. It didn't save my life. They left me alone to face Victoria's wrath. I also let them know that if it hadn't been for my family of teenage wolves, I'd probably be dead. You guys protected me when they didn't. They wanted to talk more, but Jasper could feel the rage rolling off of Klaus. I've never seen Jasper so nervous."
Bella winked at Klaus and patted his leg under the table. "I told them it was probably rude of me not to have introduced them earlier and pointed to Klaus, saying this is my husband, Niklaus Mikaelson. You guys," she pointed with her fork at Embry and Quil, "would have loved their reaction. I didn't think it was possible for corpses to pale, but I swear it looked like they did."
Through their laughter, she added, "Their faces got all twisted up with worry, and they started tripping over themselves with more apologies. I've never seen them look so obviously intimidated."
She smiled at Klaus, loving how he shrugged as if it were nothing. Klaus was not a braggart. His reputation preceded him without him having to utter a word. Ironically, his name alone invoked fear for many, yet Bella had never feared him. He'd never given her a reason to and wouldn't tolerate disrespect toward her from anyone. Bella knew he would always protect her.
Nonchalance heavy in his voice, Klaus said, "I simply told them to stay away from Isa, or I would find them and end them."
The others stared at him incredulously for a moment before laughing, feeling the depths of the familial ties deepen as they bonded.
Not long after Klaus found her again, Bella realized that the family she had longed for all those years ago had been right there, waiting for her to return. With Klaus completing it, along with the occasional visit from his siblings, Elijah and Rebecca, and finding closure at the lake, Bella had finally found her peace. She even heard from Damon and Bonnie from time to time.
An imperfect slice of heaven on earth had found Bella near the blossoming amaranth flowers. The flowers themselves represented forever - Amaranthine - and that was precisely what she had. It wasn't perfect, but it was her life, and she loved it and all those that were a part of it.
The End
