Epilogue

Just shy of three years later

The sun is barely starting to rise when your phone goes off, and I groan. "Too early."

"I know, but we have so much to do." You yawn and burrow into my side. "Cuddle me for a little while."

I hold you close, and we enjoy the silence, knowing that it's only temporary. In a few short hours, it's going to get crazy.

We share soft kisses and form a plan of action.

Holiday babies usually suffer when it comes to birthdays, so we make sure to give Marvel her own special day even though she's probably too young to remember. We will, and that's all that matters.

"Your parents will be here as soon as they pick up Grandpa Ed and Dee Dee from the airport. They're going to help decorate," you whisper, ghosting your lips over my skin. "I told Kate we could manage without her. She's miserable, and I don't want her overdoing it."

I shudder and run my hands under your shirt. Your skin is so soft and warm. Surely, we can fit in a quicky before shit hits the fan.

You seem to have the same idea and climb onto my lap, capturing my mouth while you work on my pajama pants.

As soon as they hit the floor, a shrill cry rings out on the baby monitor and we share a groan.

"Duty calls." You smile and stand up. "Raincheck?"

I nod. "I'll get her while you get breakfast started."

"Sounds good." With a quick peck, you saunter out of the room.

I put my pants back on and rush across the hall to the nursery. Luckily, Marvel sleeps like the dead because Zuri, our second miracle and gift from Maggie, is a dramatic little thing.

"Shh, baby girl." I coo and pick her up, bouncing her softly on my way to the changing table. "Let's get you clean, and Mommy is making you a nice bottle."

Her cries die down and she smiles, but at this age, it's probably just gas. I change her diaper and put her in a cute onesie before following the scent of brewing coffee.

Marvel is obsessed with waffles lately, so I'm not surprised to find you dragging the iron out of the cabinet. It is her big day.

"Her bottle is ready." You point with your chin to the sink. "Feed her while I get these started. The princess should be up soon."

While I feed the baby, you make a small feast for us. Zuri falls back to sleep once her belly is full, so I set her up in her swing in the living room before asking you if I should wake up our birthday girl.

"I'll come with you." You smile and follow me upstairs.

We creep into the nursery, and Marvel is on the opposite end of her toddler bed that she was when I left her. It's a sure sign that she's starting to wake up on her own.

You silently mouth one, two, three, and we climb onto the tiny mattress.

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" Marvel starts to stir and gives a huge smile when her eyes open. "Happy birthday, dear Marvel! Happy birthday to you!"

She lets us smother her with kisses but only for a moment before she starts squirming. "I need'a go potty, please."

You offer to take her while I set the table.

Breakfast is fun and messy. Marvel keeps us entertained with funny stories and animal sounds.

I clean up while you get her dressed, and she asks the question she's been asking us every day for the past two weeks.

"My party is today?" she asks in a hopeful voice.

You nod and run a brush through her unruly hair. "Nana and Pops are going to help us get everything ready while Dee Dee and Grandpa Ed take you to the park."

Always a great big sister, Marvel turns in her chair. "And Zuri?" she asks. "Her can come too."

"We'll see, princess."

Appeased for the moment, she runs off to the playroom, and you drop into a chair at the island and reach for the coffee pot.

"Go easy on that." I chuckle. "You're going to be no good if you have a stroke."

"Oh, stop." You laugh and swat my arm. "I'll finish this one cup and start dragging out the decorations. You need to go check on the baby and head out to pick up the cake."

"Yes, ma' am." I salute, drop a small kiss on your perfect mouth, and head to the living room.

Zuri is still sound asleep, so I get dressed, say goodbye to my girls, and make the hour drive to Carmen's house.

She invites me in to show off the massive princess-themed cake Marvel insisted on.

"I'm so sorry you had to come all the way out here to pick it up, Mr. Masen."

"Edward," I correct. "And it's really no problem. Thank you for still doing this with everything you've got going on."

Carmen rolls her eyes. "Like I wouldn't move mountains for you and your family. I wish I could attend the party, but Eleazar is still recovering from his hip replacement, and I can't leave him to tend to himself. He'd burn the house down or fall down the stairs again."

I thank her again, and she follows me to my car with a large gift bag.

"It's an interactive baking play set I had customized for Marvel. Bella mentioned that she's showing interest in the kitchen."

I laugh. Our little one loves to prove that she's a big girl and helps out with just about everything besides her little sister's dirty diapers.

"Tell Eleazar to take it easy."

"Tell Marvel happy birthday and that I hope her day is magical."

By the time I make it back home, my family has arrived and the girls are gone to enjoy a couple hours at the park with their great-grandparents.

You and Mom fawn over the cake, and you show me everything you've gotten done while I was gone.

"The back yard still needs to be set up. The bounce house is on its way." You smile. "She's never going to want to get out of that thing when she sees it."

"It's a good thing we rented it for the week then." I wrap my arms around your middle. "We could have saved ourselves a lot of heartache if you would have let me just buy her one."

You roll your pretty, brown eyes and tell me to get to work and that the girls will be back soon.

The rental company has already erected the bounce house, and I'm setting up the fold-out tables and chairs when Jasper and Garrett come barreling out of the house.

"She's losing her mind, Uncle Ed," Jasper cries. "And she's driving us all insane in the process."

"It can't be that bad." I laugh and Garrett scoffs.

"Please let her come back to work," he begs.

"Hey, it's out of my hands, guys. The doctor is the one who put her on bed rest. Talk to him."

Jasper collapses in a chair. "You're rich. Put a bed in her office and let her plan a benefit or something. Anything."

I shake my head and leave them to finish up while I check on things inside.

Kate has taken up residence on the couch with her swollen feet propped up on a pillow. Charlotte is set up at the coffee table with her coloring books and a bucket of markers.

"Hi, Uncle Ed," she greets with a toothless smile.

"Hey, pretty girl." I sit down next to Kate. "How are you doing?"

She lolls her head to the side and moans. "I'm bigger than a house, and my entire family hates me. I'm peachy fucking keen."

Charlotte gasps and Kate apologizes for cursing.

"They don't hate you."

She rubs her giant belly. "January twelfth can't come soon enough."

"It'll be here before you know it. Just try to take it easy on them. They're worried."

Kate nods and reaches for me. "Help me up. I need to pee and find a snack."

I'm digging through one of the veggie trays for the party, trying to find the perfect cherry tomatoes for the pregnant one when the door flies open and Marvel stumbles inside.

"Wow! So pretty." She squeals and takes off to find you.

Grandpa Ed and Dee Dee come in, pushing the stroller. They look a little frazzled but are both smiling.

"Edward, my boy. I've missed you." Grandpa Ed pulls me in for a hug.

"Me too. Both of you." I kiss Dee Dee on the cheek. "Dad said you guys are planning on staying in the States for a while this time."

"Yup. Bought a beach house out in Vilano. You'll be sick of us in no time."

"Not possible, Grandpa Ed," you quip, walking in with Marvel riding on your back. "Everything is done, so little Miss and I are going to get dressed for the party."

Marvel pokes her head over your shoulder. "Imma wear a pretty dress."

Hours later, the party is in full swing, and our pretty little girl has crashed from all of the excitement. She crawls into my lap, yawns, and passes out, so you pass Zuri off to Maggie and follow me inside.

Marvel usually naps for forty-five-minute stretches, so the party will still go on, and she'll get her second wind right around cake and ice cream time.

I lay her down on our bed, and you wipe her sweaty little face off with a washcloth before standing up.

"God, she's so beautiful." You breathe.

"You're so beautiful, and she's your carbon copy, so I have to agree."

You step into my open arms and sigh. "Have I told you lately that I love you and the amazing life we've created?"

"You have, but it's always nice to hear." I kiss your hair. "Ever since the first time I saw you, I knew there was nothing like you, Bella."