Epilogue

25 years later

"I said to bring me white flowers, Ylenia, not the blue ones." Renesmee frowned as she watched her best friend from the reflection in the mirror. She turned in her seat and pouted. "It's my wedding, you know."

"You're getting married?!" Ylenia feigned shock. "I didn't know that."

"Girls, please try to behave today," Elena said as she floated into the bedroom with Bella and Rosalie. "We already have enough chaos in the house without your bickering adding to it."

"Mom!" Renesmee jumped from the stool and hugged Bella.

Elena felt a tug in her chest as Renesmee embraced Bella just like she did those many years ago when she recovered the memories of her parents. She could still remember the little girl with wild dark hair. Now, Renesmee was a stunning young woman. Expressive brown eyes filled her luminous face, sculpted rosy lips that always turned up in a smile, and cheeks tinged with pink from her constant walks along the beach whenever she visited the island.

"Nessie," Bella laughed, "while I could never get enough of your embraces, why are you hugging me like you haven't seen me in weeks? I only left a few hours ago to go hunting."

"I can't help it. I'm so excited." She beamed, and then turned to Rosalie. "Does the mechanical arm work?"

Rosalie lifted her artificial arm and wiggled its fingers. "It's perfect."

"I knew it would. Aunt Elena can build anything," Renesmee said with pride.

"I wouldn't say anything," Elena said.

"Don't be so modest," Marcus said as he walked into the room. He wrapped his arms around Elena and kissed her. "It took you almost two decades to build that thing. None other exists in the world. Well, not for vampires, that is."

After the battle, Rosalie and Emmett alternated their time between traveling and spending time in Malta. Although Rosalie was able to hunt with only one arm, Elena could tell that the missing limb was haunting her. It was Emmett who told Elena that Rosalie complained about pain around the area where her arm once was. Elena never would have thought that a vampire could have phantom pain—although she couldn't think of any vampires in Rosalie's situation. A vampire rarely ever lost a limb permanently; most of the time it was reattached. Emmett told her in confidence that they had tried human prosthetics but those hadn't worked for her since they were easily damaged during every hunt. With this information, Elena had set out on creating the first prosthetic for vampires.

"It did take a lot longer than I thought," Elena said apologetically to Rosalie.

Rosalie smiled. "I am forever grateful to you for it. I know Emmett definitely is." She winked suggestively.

"Eww, that's gross," Renesmee said.

Rosalie giggled. "You just wait. You won't think it's so gross after tonight."

A groan was heard from the living room.

"Edward, go outside if you can't handle the girl talk," Bella called out. Turning to Marcus, she said, "He's not handling this very well. Maybe you can distract him for a bit before the ceremony?"

"My pleasure," he said.

On his way out the door, he brushed his hand over Rosalie's cheek. "It's good to see you smiling again."

"Thanks to your wife, I have a lot to smile about," Rosalie said. "Not only is she a great inventor, she's also a genius in camouflage."

Elena walked to Rosalie and examined her face where the black scar used to be. It was now covered with specialized rubber that she concocted to match the tone of Rosalie's skin. "I must admit, this is one of my favorite creations."

"My favorite is the little black negligée." Renesmee ran to her set of Prada luggage, a wedding gift from Alice, and gently lifted delicate black material from it. "It's so sheer. How did you put it together without tearing the fabric?"

Edward groaned even louder.

"Ugh. Go save Edward from himself." Elena playfully pushed Marcus out of the room.

Marcus chuckled. "I'm going, I'm going."

Elena smiled widely as she watched Marcus leave to join Edward in the living room. She was so happy to see the Cullens at peace after all these years. Edward and Rosalie had finally come to some type of reconciliation that was a relief to all involved. It wasn't easy getting to that place, though. At first, family gatherings had been difficult, but all tried their best to get along. It was because of their love for Renesmee that everyone even bothered to try. Bella had her doubts that Edward would ever forgive Rosalie, claiming he was very stubborn. Marcus had argued that even though Edward was furious with her, the family bond was still there. If there was one thing they had learned from the battle with Aro and having Renata rejoin them, it was that the family bond is flexible. It may be pulled to near its breaking point, but it never gave way.

"Edward, I'm warning you. Don't go in there," Elena heard Marcus yell after Edward.

The door swung open, and Edward charged in, his amber eyes filled with worry and Marcus following behind. "I'm sorry. I couldn't convince him to go outside with me."

"I just wanted to see my daughter one last time before the ceremony," Edward said. "That's not a crime."

"Edward," Bella warned.

"Don't worry, love. I won't ruin this day for you two." Edward cupped Renesmee's face and looked deeply into her eyes. "Nessie, I'm your father, and I love you. And as your father, it's my duty to make sure that you have the best. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

"Edward!" Bella hit his arm.

"Dad," Renesmee moaned at the same time.

"Wait, hear me out. You're special, and I'm not sure he's good enough for you."

Elena took a step toward him, ready to defend Renesmee's fiancée. Bella stopped her. Scowling at Edward, Bella said, "You'd say that no matter who she wanted to marry."

"That's not true," Edward said. "I believe she needs more time to think this —"

"It's time. It's time." Alice's voice chimed from down the hall. As she walked into the room, she balked when she saw Edward. "Edward, stop torturing everyone. I told you, my vision is clear. She's marrying him today, and they're going to be very happy together."

Edward turned around and looked down, glaring at his sister. "We all know your visions are subjective. Besides" —he waggled a finger at her— "when your visions include Renesmee and the wolves, they're not entirely reliable, now aren't they?"

"Well . . . I . . . you see." Alice grew flustered.

Edward smirked.

Alice pressed her lips into a thin line and placed her hands on her hips. "Don't make me bring Jasper in here."

"Did you call for me?" Jasper poked his head inside the room.

"Hey, why is everyone in the bedroom?" Emmett poked his under Jasper's. "Ooh, Nessie, your man's gonna flip when he gets a look at you."

"That's it. Everyone out of the room!" Bella ordered. "Marcus, Jasper, Emmett, get out on the patio with all the other men. Edward, you wait out in the hall for Nessie."

Bella shuffled everyone out. One by one, the women kissed Renesmee as they filed out of the room. When they were gone, Bella turned to Renesmee. "Whenever you're ready, darling." Bella's eyes swept over Renesmee, taking in the delicate white summer dress, and right before her eyes, her little girl turned into a young woman. Bella took Renesmee in her arms and whispered, "You look so grown up, so beautiful. You're not my little girl anymore."

Renesmee held on to Bella tightly, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall. "I'll always be your little girl," she choked.

After a moment, Bella pulled back and handed her a tissue. "Be careful with your makeup. I'll never hear the end of it from your aunt Alice."

"Mom," Renesmee said as her mother was about to leave the room. "I do love him. He's the one."

Bella turned and gave her a smile. "I know you do," she said before closing the door behind her.

o.O.o

Elena watched Edward march down the aisle with Renesmee on his arm. His normally coiffed bronze hair was in disarray from constantly running his hands through it. His eyes looked worried and were in contrast to Renesmee's glow as she looked straight ahead at her future husband's eyes.

When they reached the end of the aisle, he looked questioningly at the Domancich human family member officiating the ceremony as if he were hoping that the human would talk Renesmee out of it.

Bella cleared her throat loudly, and Edward sighed. He bent down, kissed Renesmee's cheek, gave the young man standing next to her one final warning look and reluctantly, stepped away to join Bella.

As Renesmee handed her maid of honor, Ylenia, the cascade of white flowers, Edward muttered to Bella. "It's not that I don't like him; it's just . . . it's just that she's my little girl."

"And she always will be," Bella whispered back as she took his hand in hers.

Elena stifled a giggle as she watched Jacob, amused. He shifted uncomfortably in his tuxedo as he glanced nervously at Bella and Edward. But as soon as his eyes landed on Renesmee, they filled with love and serenity.

The ceremony began, and all was quiet except for the tenor voice that uttered his vows to Renesmee. Elena thought back to when she had married Marcus and how mesmerized she had been by his voice as he recited his vows to her.

I promise to give you all that I am, for it is you and your love that opened my eyes to what love truly is. You are my soul, my mate, my forever.

When the voice became silent, Elena turned her attention to Renesmee. Renesmee brought a pair of strong, muscular hands to her lips and kissed them before she began her vows.

"I, Renesmee Cullen take you, Lucas Domancich . . ."

A tiny hand reached out to Elena's and squeezed it gently. Elena turned and smiled at an ecstatic Renata. Renata had a special place in her heart for Luca's namesake. She had looked after him with great care, and there was nothing she wouldn't do for him. Lucas adored her in return. He was just like his great uncle: charming, compassionate, and with a bit of dry humor. He was a perfect match to Renesmee, so it was no surprise that they had grown to love each other.

Elena turned back to watch Jacob as he handed Lucas the ring. She stifled a laugh as she saw the expression on his face. Jacob, like Edward, was skeptical of Lucas, but none of the family took their concern seriously. They all knew that to any father, no one in the world would be good enough for his little girl. Jacob knew Lucas made Renesmee happy, so of course he did anything she asked of him, even standing in as the best man at her wedding. For Edward, the fact that Lucas was not Jacob was Lucas' saving grace.

When Lucas had made the decision to be turned to a vampire, both Edward and Jacob protested. It was funny, really, to see them form a united front over this one issue. Lucas wanted to join the other Domancich vampires as a protector. Renesmee was delighted at the prospect. Edward argued that since Aro was gone, there really was no need for protectors.

Marcus disagreed, explaining that as long as one Volturi remained, there would always be a need to protect the families. No one really thought that Sulpicia would do anything to avenge Aro's death—she didn't seem to be the type. In fact, in the twenty-five years since the war, no one had heard a peep from her.

They finally agreed it was better to be safe than sorry, so it was decided that after a yearlong honeymoon and a trip around the world, compliments of Carlisle and Esme, Marcus would do the honor of changing Lucas.

And, in the end, Lucas and Renesmee would live the rest of their existence forever young and forever happy.