Happy Birthday Ipsy!

Today is Ipsita's birthday and I dedicate this chapter to her. She has put her heart and soul into this story and spent countless hours gently challenging me to make it better. This Edward's sweet nature comes directly from her.

Nic has been the most wonderful support. You'll never find a more encouraging pre-reader, and her "less is more" guidance has always kept me on track.

VampyreGirl86 and SarcasticBimbo have subtly and kindly pointed out my mistakes (before I tweaked) without ever making me feel like a stupid foreigner. I can't thank you two enough.

I'm going to miss my Harvestward Team and the part you've played. You've been brilliant and funny, generous and reassuring, and I appreciate every minute you've given me, so much.

Chapter 35 - Epilogue Part 2

All the Cullens spent Christmas Day at the hospital, and we FaceTimed with Mom and Dad. They allowed Edward to move around by then, once he'd passed his father's extensive neurological tests. There was never an explanation as to why he was unconscious for so long, but Carlisle made him promise not to work or drive until he came back down to reexamine him. He told me to call if anything caused me concern.

Going through that experience with his parents by my side bonded us together, and after living through the fear of losing him, I knew how important he was to me.

"I don't remember the accident, but I sure do remember the recuperation," he says, popping his eyebrows. Blushing, I turn around to check if there's anyone behind us, and he squeezes my backside.

"Behave yourself, Cullen."

"You didn't mind me misbehavin' this mornin'," he purrs in my ear.

All I can do is remove his hand and pull it around my shoulders. He's incorrigible, but I wouldn't have him any other way.

They sent Edward home from hospital to rest and heal, but he had no intention of resting, having long phone conversations with Sam, needing us to go to the factory to make decisions about surfaces and colors. I saw the walls of our house for the first time, so thick they created window seats: twelve inches made up of wooly fiber, ply board, then foam, and a final grid of wood for the siding. I smiled, seeing the Hardiplank boards in the Boothbay Blue color I'd chosen.

They showed me diagrams, plotting the winter sun flooding the kitchen and living areas with warmth. In summer, the overhang of the roof would shade the windows. I soon learned that the passive solar design and insulation were just as important as the panels we would install on our roof.

"Come closer," he said when we went to bed, but his bruised chest was a constant reminder that his injuries could have been so much worse. Carlisle had explained they no longer strapped broken ribs because it prevented deep breathing, which could lead to pneumonia or a collapsed lung. Edward never wore clothes to bed, and the bruise made me nervous I'd hurt him while we slept.

"Not until your ribs have healed," was my obvious response, fearing I'd end up sprawled across his fractured chest, a thigh thrown over him. A little space might help my subconscious to cooperate.

His lips formed a pout. "That could be a month or more."

I scooted over cautiously and played with his hair. "You said it was good for us to take a break from sex." His fingers softly traced down my back, and I marveled at his beautiful eyes, aware it was only a week ago I was praying he would open them again.

"Then I want to talk about it."

Frowning, I asked, "Are there ground rules?"

"No, I want to talk about sex." I took my hand from his hair and waited for an explanation. "Even though we're not married, we're going to be exclusive for a long time, right?"

Oh, God, I braced myself, fearing he was about to reveal aspects of our sex life he found lacking.

"There are things I want to try before I get old—things I want to do to you—things I want you to do to me. I want to know what really turns you on—your secret fantasies."

I gulped.

He saw me.

"You're my fantasy, Edward Cullen. I'm the luckiest woman in the world."

"That's not what I mean. You're in my fantasies, too. I'm talking about the fantasy itself—the what, the how, the why. It doesn't have to make any sense. Some people think about having their toes sucked."

When I scrunched up my face in disgust, he started to laugh and then groaned, hugging his chest.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded. "And maybe they go through their whole life and never try it. Are there things you want to explore?"

Still recoiling from the idea of toes in my mouth, I shrugged. Sex with Edward was already better than I could have imagined.

"I don't know."

"Okay, maybe you don't know yet, but was there ever somethin' that pressed your buttons and you weren't sure why?"

There wasn't that much to think through since I hadn't really delved into my sexuality until Edward came into my life. I couldn't find anything until…

"When I was really young and working at Newton's, there was this park ranger who would come in sometimes. I never realized until you stopped shaving in Mexico that I had a thing for his beard. I used to fantasize about him wanting me, surprising me in one of the back rooms of the store."

"And?" Edward asked, eagerly.

"He'd get into my clothes and then screw me."

"Was he taking you against your will?" he queried with an eyebrow slightly raised.

"No, but I knew it was wrong." All those years ago, I was too shy to share something like that, even with Angela. Now I wondered what Edward would make of my dream. "I've also had a dirty dream."

"Tell me." He turned on his side and then grimaced, returning to his back.

"Do you need pain relief?"

He shook his head. "No, I need to hear about this dream."

"Okay. I work in a masseuse place—a legit one. We don't go near the clients sexually and they're not allowed to touch us, but every time you come in, we have sex."

"We do?" he asked with eyebrows in full flight.

I nodded and kept going before I lost my nerve. "It starts off with a massage in a room where everything is white, including my uniform, and the tension sort of builds from the time I notice your erection under the towel. The first time, I've already let you...um, your hands are creeping up my thighs when your time's up, but I think I make it clear you're welcome back. When you rebook and ask for me personally, I take off my underwear when I'm preparing the room, and once you find out, we both know what's gonna happen. In that sterile and pristine environment, we go at it like animals, and you choose to leave there reeking of sex, while I'm covered in oil and bodily fluids. I have to shower before I can take my next client, and if anyone finds out, I'll lose my job, but that's part of why it's so...exciting."

Edward slowly slid his foot up and down the bed in that sexy way he got comfortable. "Define 'Go at it like animals.'"

Taking a breath, I tried not to feel embarrassed. "It's like we can't get enough of each other, aware the clock is ticking, and we want to do everything before it's over. There's no tenderness, obviously. You cover my mouth with your hand to keep me quiet when I'm coming. I have bite marks around my nipples and bruises on my ass."

"Jesus, how do I get one of these massages?" he asked with a flirty grin on his face.

Chuckling and blushing at the same time, I would have hit him playfully if he wasn't already damaged. "You have to share your fantasies, too, mister."

"Well, I have dreams where sex is just pure pleasure, and I've had urges to tie you up and enslave you. It's not like an obsession, but I would like to try it."

This didn't surprise me, because he'd shown these tendencies since the beginning, and I found him very seductive when he was in a dominant mood.

"I also want to learn about tantric sex and controlling my own orgasms because the sensation when you come as I'm thrusting sends me over the brink. I don't seem to be able to control it."

I needed to say something in my defense. "I thought the aim was to come together."

He picked up a piece of my hair and let his fingers run through it. "Baby, I'm payin' you a compliment. It's just so...Jesus, I want you to have multiple orgasms on my cock. You and I have the potential for mind blowing sex."

Multiple orgasms. Mind blowing sex. I didn't say I'd heard those terms but had little idea what they meant. There was another world out there I had yet to discover, but I knew I could trust Edward to guide me sexually, just as he did the first time we slept together.

It wasn't a whole month without sex because we came up with ideas too tempting not to try. Avoiding intercourse while his ribs healed, we found other ways to pleasure each other. I learned how his mind worked, how he was visually stimulated by looks, situations, and clothing, how he'd harden, watching me use my tongue a certain way on the head of his cock.

And it wasn't always about orgasms, either. We gave each other massages, sometimes using featherlike strokes that would eventually cause sleep. Others turned sensual and intense.

We found comfort in physically connecting, curled up on the couch listening to music. Edward had grown up with Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins and Jackson Brown, Nora Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Tom Petty—all artists I liked. The Black Keys always made him dance, but he was just at home with Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley. I found out he'd been listening to the Seattle station, KEXP, for years, admitting it was where he first heard the Lumineers, so we always tuned in when we cooked together. Edward raved when he finally tasted the clams I'd promised him in Seattle.

Spending time discussing the importance of a strong sexual relationship, we vowed to communicate and surprise each other, spicing things up before we ever got bored. It made us stronger and closer as a couple, and I wanted to propose, but something always caught in my throat, making me hesitate and wonder if the time was right.

I feel his arm slide around my waist. "I love that we have our own playpen now."

Closing my eyes, I recall the erotic things we've done in our very private home. Running a finger along his jaw, I respond, "And I love that you gave us such a sexy damn place to play."

He smiles down at me. "Well, I'm very glad you decided to stay."

"I made that decision long before I saw our home."

He looks out at the field of barley and exhales. "How good was it finally seeing the house on our land? That was a best day."

"It was," I agree, falling right into those memories.

The crane arrived early the day they delivered our house. The big rig also carried our water tanks. There was already a portable toilet on site, and it was the middle of February—25 degrees as the sun rose in the sky, with snow on the ground.

More huge trucks came in slowly, bringing the building in pieces. The height of the roof meant each module had to come as two separate floors, so there were six building blocks to join on site. Even the tanks had their own room at the back of the garage. Edward wanted to ensure our water supply never froze in the pipes, and he had two tanks, just in case one failed.

Maybe the town waking up had noticed the procession, but there was soon an assembly of people peering in from the road to see the show. It was fascinating, watching the crane lift pieces into the air, slowly descending to line up exactly. I had a camera set on a high tripod, shooting the action at one frame a minute, and I took videos of men singing out as they pulled on ropes and guided corners into position. Placing the first floor had been a triumph of precision, and the men swarmed the building to secure it together. When the second floors hovered in the air, I looked up in awe at the cavernous interiors without floors, and got my first peek at the mezzanine's walkway.

It took all morning for the four parts of the house to come together, and I watched Edward look to the sky with gratitude. I wanted so badly to go inside, but he had asked me to stay back until he gave me the signal, apparently worried about my safety.

I only had one way to contribute—the back of my car was full of food, and I backed it in closer so I could serve everyone from there. They polished off my spicy chicken and potato gratin, coming back for ham rolls with mustard, washing it all down with cans of pop I offered from our brand new cooler.

When lunch was over, they lifted the water tanks into position, and lowered the garage sections over them, forming the L shape that finished the job. Then Edward beckoned me from our front door, grinning as he sat a hard hat on my head and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. The first thing I noticed was the smell of freshly sawn timber, and I breathed it in as I hugged him, seeing the mountains through the big windows, realizing we were standing inside our home.

Wandering around, men were connecting plumbing while the muted sounds of voices and drills continued from the garage. The house itself was essentially finished, but there were things still to complete. Where the modules intersected internally, they still had to blend them seamlessly. The stairs to the mezzanine were missing, and Sam assured me it would only take a couple of hours to finish them. Our shower screens and quartz countertops would arrive by the weekend, and there were holes in the kitchen to fill with major appliances, but I sat on a window seat and knew the kitchen would look fabulous. It was slightly industrial with teal upper cabinetry and black below. The colors were inspired by a range of glossy tiles we found in mother-of-pearl tones we chose for the backsplash, and the black was perfect against the reclaimed timber floors that hid the treasure of underfloor heating. It was very different from the kitchen I'd done in Seattle, but I loved it.

As the sunlight dwindled, the trucks were long gone, and it was just us, saying goodbye and thanking Sam. I would have done anything to stay there that night, but there were solar panels to install, batteries, converters, a delivery of water coming, filtration and hot water systems to connect, so we had to lock up and drive back to Billings.

Two weeks later, I was waiting for my gear to come off a flight in Billings. My head was still full of eroded sandstone, long afternoon shadows, images of arches within arches, lines of giant stone soldiers staring out over frosty valleys. The week in Utah at Arches National Park had enriched my creative juices, making me frame differently, finding the patience to wait until a subject's silhouette lay upon another. The ancient landscape was unlike anything I'd ever seen, and it had been an honor to photograph there.

Suddenly, Edward was right behind me and all thoughts of the past week flew out the window. Running my hands over his shoulders, up his neck, and into his hair, I grinned at him surprising me. "What are you doing here? I was going to take an Uber."

"Couldn't wait." He pulled me to him, kissing me hard in front of the crowd standing around us. Then he grinned and I noticed a spark in his eyes, the telltale sign he had something up his sleeve. "How would you like to move to Red Lodge tomorrow?"

"What? Is the power working?"

"And we have hot water." He looked very pleased with himself, and I just had to hug him.

Then I heard a female voice say, "Now that's a man," and turned to see a woman with a hot pink suitcase, ogling my boyfriend. The scowl I sent her way startled her, as if she'd just realized she said that aloud, and I kept my eyes trained on her as she rolled the bag toward the exit.

"You are one sexy woman when you get all possessive," Edward stated, lifting my bag into the Mazda before I could argue. He had healed, but I still found it difficult to stop looking after him.

Fuming, I got in the car. "So, do we have people to move us, 'cause you're not doing it."

"Don't worry. They're loading the container first, then comin' to us."

"Okay, then we had better get on with it."

"I've done most of the packing already."

"Please tell me you haven't been lifting heavy boxes?" I asked, glaring at him.

He chuckled. "We have company, babe. Emmett's sleepin' on the couch."

"Oh, sorry." He'd never been stupid or reckless, and I was overreacting because a woman had leered at him. "I let that woman get me riled."

"Like I said," he replied with a smirk. "Sexy as hell."

"And the day we moved in? Another best day."

"Hard to top that one," I admitted, recalling that day like a dream.

We arrived long before the movers' truck, and the first thing Edward did was plug in his speaker, playing air guitar as "Glory Days" filled the room. He pulled off his jacket, striptease style, and hung it on an imaginary hook, letting it fall to the floor. I sat on a window seat next to my precious orchid and grinned as he danced in his t-shirt and flannel. He was so happy the day had come when we could finally enjoy the result of his hard work.

There was one piece of furniture here already—the mattress had arrived for my California King base. His bed was going in the other big bedroom. We decided not to mention the furniture I'd left in Seattle with Angela and Ben, and had ordered a new table and chairs. My old table wasn't going to suit the ultra-modern look of this architectural masterpiece. That's how I thought of my home as I walked around, seeing it completed for the first time. The soaring ceiling and windows made me think of a cathedral as we ascended the stairs to the mezzanine level. It was warm, too—evenly warm—like you could forget it was winter outside. Underfloor heating was the best thing ever.

We didn't have much furniture to fill the space. As the guys carried each item in, it reminded me of stocking the Ark with pairs of things: two leather couches, two matching chairs, coffee tables, televisions, bookcases, the contents of two offices. We had sold my washing machine and dryer, and, sadly, the Mustang had also gone to a new owner. He couldn't justify keeping it anymore, and he made the decision in the heat of the moment, angry he couldn't find an electric car we could afford.

"I like it. It's minimalist," Edward commented as he surveyed the living rooms.

"So do I," I agreed, imagining the walls with his drawings and enlarged photos of mine. We'd put our stamp on the rooms before we knew it.

Emmett stared at me, then shook his head. "I'm gonna see if there's more in the truck."

Rose turned up at eleven, prancing in with two boxes of donuts and a belly declaring she was carrying a baby. "Wow, it's incredible," she said, drawn to the view of the mountains with trees sprinkled with snow, and I suddenly felt jealous of her pregnancy. She looked different—full of joy—fulfilled somehow.

Then Kebi, Tia and the kids arrived to welcome us to Red Lodge. They came with a box full of meat and vegetables, eggs, cheese, honey, pickles and chutneys. Tia blushed when she handed it to Edward, saying this one was not part of the deal.

Edward had found a way to give them the $1500, speaking the homesteaders' language of barter. He offered to pay in advance for the equivalent of meat, eggs and vegetables once we moved to Red Lodge. It was Tia who pushed her husband to agree, wanting that hot water for her family, and we'd be getting organic food and recipes tailored to each delivery. We'd learn what to plant and when to harvest. We'd have an excuse to see them more often.

Between Tia and Edward, Kebi didn't stand a chance, and I looked at the grin on my man—clearly loving the fact that he'd won. He would never change, but he had such a big heart, his intentions were always honorable. We showed them around the house, but they couldn't stay because one of their cows was howling, likely ready to calf.

That was the first night I used my grandmother's china to entertain. Rather than order pizza, Rose and I followed Tia's recipe and made a delicious casserole we all devoured. Sam, Emily, and Maya came for dinner and Rose and Emmett stayed over.

I don't think I'd ever felt as content, seeing friends and family finding things in common and enjoying each other's company.

"The thing I feared the most was losing power, but you made it seem like nothing."

"Did I?" I ask, enjoying the compliment.

"You know you did. You were like a pioneer woman."

"Hardly," I had to correct him.

"And I almost broke my promise and begged you to marry me."

He never shared this before, and all I can do is kiss him and remember.

Winter in Red Lodge took hold later than I expected, with heavy snow falling right through March and April. Both of us were vigilant about clearing the solar panels, but there were days when we looked at the readings on the monitor and faced life without power.

While I was enjoying a herd of deer that wandered through the pure white landscape all around us, Edward was desolate, saying he'd failed me by not including the wood fire inside, but I was having none of it. I told him this was what we signed up for and together we'd be fine.

Something kicked in and I took over, telling him to get the stove going outside while I filled every bottle we had with water. When the flames were roaring, I brought out a huge pot of water to heat.

Putting on my warmest jacket, I took out two glasses of whiskey, saying I'd make his favorite dish in the cast iron pot for dinner. We clinked glasses and he smiled for the first time all day, wrapping an arm around me and asking how he got so lucky to have me in his life. He said I was amazing, but he was the amazing one, designing a house that retained its warmth right through the night, long after the power died. With just the glow from a string of LED lights in our bedroom, we made love and kept each other warm.

At dawn, the sun's rays peeked into the house and the light worked its magic on our bank of photovoltaic cells, giving us power by lunchtime. It happened again twice before the end of winter, and once for more than a day, but each time we survived. It didn't take that much to get prepared before the power completely failed, and I only saw it as a minor inconvenience.

"It was like a test, starting out in winter." I tighten my arm around his waist and sigh.

"Yeah, but we came through it without arguing, and that says a lot."

"I don't find you annoying anymore."

He pulls away and asks, "Anymore?"

Trying not to smile, I answer him honestly. "You decided to sweep me off my feet at a weak point in my life, Cullen. I told you I wasn't ready, but you wouldn't give up, and it almost turned out very badly for you and me."

He snorts. "I could never give up on you, my love. Once I had you in my sights, you were never gettin' away."

"That's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I would have found that irritating once, but I'm used to you now."

"Well, that's lucky," he says with a smirk.

I look away for a second, trying to keep a serious face. "As it happens, it is." Then a grin takes over and gives me away. "Because I've never been this happy, and it's all because of you."

Wrapping his arms around me, he says, "Oh, baby, I love you."

I run my fingers through his hair and down into his beard, and then cling to him. "And I love you, too, more than you can imagine."

We stay like that for a while and then hear, "Edward, Bella!" turning to see Esme waving at us.

"I guess it's time to go back," I say, seeing Jasper, Tyler and Laurent laying the chairs out.

"Are you really happy with this? I want to know."

"I am," I answer truthfully. "But this isn't exactly what you wanted."

"Honestly, I didn't care. I get you, don't I?"

God, he's so sweet. I pull on his hand so he's looking at me. "Thank you for an incredible year, Edward. You brought out the person I was supposed to be."

He looks at the ground, and then up, his green eyes soft and warm. "Yeah, well, I saw the real you from the beginning. You just thought you could hide for a while longer."

"That's so true. I was hiding from my feelings for you."

"Is that why you gave in and proposed?"

"It didn't feel like giving in. I knew when you were in hospital I'd die without you. The way I felt when we were apart convinced me. I knew the day we moved into the house, and every day after that, but I never could find the right moment to ask."

"So you created one."

"I didn't have a plan, only wanting to do something special for your birthday. When you mentioned a canoe and Cooney Reservoir, I packed a picnic lunch, not realizing it was such a beautiful place. It was the quiet and the scenery that made the day so romantic. Leaning back against your chest, staring at the big sky and mountains, the sound of water lapping the canoe was so sublime, I knew there would never be a more perfect moment to propose."

"Of course I said yes."

"And then you floored me when you already had the perfect engagement ring."

"Yeah, well, Angela sent me a picture of the ring you'd always wanted."

"God, your mother was wonderful, too"

Edward had one only wish for our wedding. He wanted the ceremony held in the family church in Winifred, so we called Esme to give her our news and ask her to speak to the priest.

She was thrilled but the church was not an option for us. In the Catholic faith, I was still married. Edward asked about annulment and she sighed, saying it was a difficult process.

"The local priest receives your written testimony based on the grounds for annulment, along with a list of people willing to answer questions about the history of the marriage. The spouse can contest it or choose not to participate, but a bishop and tribunal have to make the decision."

"What are the grounds for annulment?" I asked.

"Bein' underage, marryin' a close relation, like a first cousin, impotence, lack of consent: ignorance, mental incapacity, shotgun weddings. They might grant an annulment for chronic infidelity and abandonment, or physical abuse, but the factors are supposed to be present at the time of the marriage. What happens after is…considered part of married life."

Edward looked at me with doleful eyes because we both knew I wouldn't qualify.

"But I'm not Catholic," I stated, hoping for a way around this.

"It doesn't matter. All marriages are recognized the same way."

"We want to get married, Mom."

She sighed. "I know you love each other, so hire a celebrant and save yourselves a lot of trouble."

"Do you really mean that?" he asked, frowning.

"I almost lost one son by interferin'. All that matters is that you know I love you and want you to be happy."

"Mom." He stared at me, his eyes misty with emotion, and I rubbed his back, feeling teary myself.

"When do you want to get married?" she asked, and I looked at Edward. We hadn't really thought that far ahead.

"I don't know. Is this summer too soon?" I requested. Edward grinned as he shook his head.

Then it was suddenly up to me to decide what kind of wedding I wanted, and all I could think of was my first wedding. I had so little involvement in the Quileute ceremony I only partly understood, held in a clearing in the Hoh Rain Forest. It was a lovely setting, but the slow and constant beating of drums reminded me of a funeral, and the smoke from fires stung my eyes. I wore a long lacy white dress and ridiculous heels while Jake was barefoot in a suede tunic and pants. Matching shell necklaces went over our heads. We ate a meal of salmon, potatoes and salad from plates on our laps, sitting anywhere we could find a spare chair. Tyler said he enjoyed it. Mom made the cake. Everyone laughed at the jokes about the chief's daughter marrying the chief's son. and there was a sense they approved of the union back then. They played guitars and there was singing, but no first dance as a married couple. The night ended with Angela scolding Jake when he was still sitting around a fire at 2:00 am. I honestly didn't care. I was scared of consummating a marriage we'd entered into without ever having sex.

I did like the fact that they held the wedding outdoors and that guests stayed over, so that's what I asked for. I just wanted the people I loved to share my joy as I made my commitment to Edward. As the only child of two only children and grandparents all passed, I had virtually no family. Mom had cousins who lived in Phoenix, but I hadn't seen them since I was ten. The Masens were a huge group—hailing from all over Montana, and there were plenty of Cullen relatives who would come from Chicago for Carlisle's son's marriage. It was obviously going to be easier to hold the wedding in Montana, and when Esme offered the family home for the day before the harvest, it was like coming full circle, bringing us back to where we started.

With only eight weeks' notice, I was thrilled that Mom and Dad, Tyler and Laurent, and Ben and Angela were all available to come and stay for a few days with us before the wedding. Angela, especially, had to be there as my bridesmaid, and she chose the day I asked her to tell me she was pregnant. Edward asked Emmett to be best man when we visited them in the hospital after Macie was born.

Where would we go for our honeymoon? Neither of us wanted to chance catching something else in the tropics, but we were still looking for somewhere memorable. I had just sold my images of the whale sharks to a travel magazine, and Edward came up with the idea of going to New Zealand, showing me photos of the South Island, majestic places where they filmed "Lord of the Rings." He knew I'd be taking photos anyway, and he wanted to see how they were tackling the massive task of rebuilding Christchurch, a city devastated by earthquake, so we could write off a trip like that as a business expense.

I was already sold, searching on Google Maps, reading out all the foreign sounding names. Edward found out The Māori, their indigenous race, was Polynesian, the same as the people of Hawaii.

Queenstown had world-class ski fields and incredible hotels right on the lake. Wanaka also looked like a stunning place to stay, and I wanted to see the Franz Josef Glacier, Fiordland, and Milford Sound. It would take us a whole day to fly into Christchurch, but the exchange rate meant we could have one heck of a great vacation. I couldn't wait.

With company coming for the wedding, we put the finishing touches on the house, installing a dark gray driveway made from the same Ashcrete, stamped to resemble big pavers. It looked great against the blue-gray siding. The same bobcat they used to grade the driveway dug out our fishing hole so we could stock it with native fish. While Edward built two gravel traps so the water could flow in and out of our little lake without the fish escaping, he kept looking at the mountain and then the house.

When I asked him what we was thinking, he reminded me of the time he talked about building an ice stupa, saying he'd abandoned the idea when our climate was so different from the arid areas in northern India. Here, the heaviest rain fell in May and would wash the stupa away. He pointed out that the creek had never frozen during winter, and he wanted to try the same principle, taking water from a level high enough to use gravity to run it onto the roof. Pipe was cheap and we'd already tested the quality of the creek water for the fish. It still would go through the same purification process as any rain that fell on the roof, providing us with an extra supply during periods of drought or if the power shut down for longer next winter. I just clung to him all sweaty and dirty, loving the fact that he was always planning for our future.

We assembled the greenhouse, covering the two long raised garden beds that now needed shade from the summer sun. Tia had advised us to buy a greenhouse with screens and an outer layer we could raise during summer. Cooling and shading the plants would slow their growth and lengthen the time they bore fruit. In winter, we'd add a layer of bubble wrap under the plastic.

It was while I was tending my garden and singing to myself that Alice called me unexpectedly. I still hadn't quite worked out my relationship with Edward's sister because she sometimes came across as a princess. Although she was very bright, Alice was the only one who didn't play any role in the family business, but she was quite happy for the four of them to continue to live with her parents. Today, she was calling to float an idea. I didn't have to answer immediately and she'd understand completely if I said no.

"Just tell me, Alice. What is it?"

"Since all the family are invited to the wedding, how would you feel about having Macie's christening on the same day? Us Catholics usually baptize our babies around two months old, so the timing would be perfect, and this way the family only makes one trip. We could have the christening in the morning and the wedding in the afternoon and evening."

"What does Esme think of the idea?"

"Rose won't let me ask her unless you agree. She doesn't want to encroach on your day."

I only had to think about it for a second to realize it was a good idea. "I don't have a problem with it."

"Really?" she asked excitedly.

"Let me ask Edward first, okay?"

"All right, but he better say yes, and he better still agree to be godfather."

I just frowned. She'd certainly switched her tune from saying she would understand completely if I said no. So why say it?

"Well, you know my answer, Alice. Why don't you call him yourself?"

She hummed for a second. "No, you can ask him."

"Sure. How about I come back to you."

"Oh, thank you, Bella. You'll love it!"

I ended the call, shaking my head. She just had a knack of rubbing me the wrong way.

Of course, Edward did say yes, and Esme thought we girls had come up with a sensible solution. She said, "The Lord will surely bless such a day celebrating two holy sacraments." I asked Edward what he thought she meant and if she personally saw our union as a true marriage when she'd said the church wouldn't recognize it.

"Don't question Mom's religion," was all he'd say.

"I need to know what that means so I don't put my foot in my mouth. I want to keep her on my side."

"She is on your side." I just stood and stared at him, wondering what he was holding back, and then he sighed. "Her beliefs are just hard to understand sometimes."

"Give me an example."

"Okay, there were a lot of arguments before Rose left, and Mom told Emmett he should have the marriage annulled, that Rose probably knew all along she was infertile. To her, having children is marriage."

"Oh boy." Some things had fallen into place: Emmett's demeanor when I first met him, and Esme telling me his marriage was crumbling when it was clearly the opposite in Mexico. As soon as she was pregnant, Esme welcomed Rose back into the family.

We talked about having our own children. All our close friends and family were having babies, so why would we wait? I found a new doctor in Red Lodge to remove my implant, and he informed me it could happen quickly or take a year to conceive.

Four weeks later, we were at Sam and Emily's and I had cramps, as if my system was finally waking up.

"I'm such a baby," I groaned, trying to get comfortable. "I'm dreading being in the wilderness for my first period in years."

"You can't cancel?" she asked.

I shook my head. "My old editor is offering to cover my expenses to come back to Rainier, so I can't refuse. I'll just have to toughen up."

"I still have a test somewhere," she told me, rattling around in the drawer of her nightstand. "Here," she offered, handing it to me. "It will expire by the time I need it again."

It was a rough week of rain and hiking through mud, but I'd managed to get a few unusual shots of water cascading in the forest and even some remarkable images of a rainbow through droplets of rain.

Rose called, in tears after an all-nighter with Macie, thinking she was suffering from postpartum depression. Between sobs, she told me she'd chosen the name because it meant "A gift from the Lord." She knew Macie was a miracle when her infertility was permanent. Without another round of treatment, she would never conceive, and it had taken months for doctors to get the balance right, several more to fall pregnant. Rose laughed and stated the way she felt, it was probably a good thing if she never had another baby. I had no knowledge of postpartum depression, but I had experience with abnormal feelings of low self-esteem, and I told her it was fatigue playing games with her head.

"Could your mom come down and give you a break?"

"She's not very well at the moment."

"What about your sister?"

"Working."

"Alice?"

I heard her snort. "Alice has the girls."

"Couldn't Esme look after them for one day?"

"I'm not going to ask Alice. You're right, it's probably just being overtired and Macie's asleep now. I'll feel much better when I've had some rest."

"I wish I was there to give you one of Edward's long hugs. They really work."

"I know. Emmett's are good, too, but they're harvesting this week and...hey, thanks for letting me vent, sis. You've cheered me up, and now I gotta put my head down."

Having never had a sibling, I loved hearing Rose call me that, and I liked that she thought of me when she needed to talk. However, I really didn't know if I had helped her, so I called the one person who should know what she was going through.

"I thought you were working," Emily said when she answered my call.

"I am, but I just got a call from Rose, crying and saying she thinks she's got postpartum depression, and I wanted to ask your advice."

"She has that thing, doesn't she, the hormonal imbalance?"

"Yeah, she does."

"Maybe it's worse for her, then. You didn't see me during the first month when I was crying all the time."

"Is that normal?" I asked, eager for information.

"A lot of people go through the baby blues. Sometimes you cry, and then you're laughing your head off at stupid things. Does she have anyone with her?"

"No, apparently her family aren't available."

"Well, I can go. She's only a couple of hours north of here. I'll take a bag and the cot in case we have to stay overnight."

"Emily, please, I didn't call you to do that, honestly."

"Hey, I'm not doing anything. I like Rose, and Maya will enjoy seeing their farm."

"God, you're wonderful. I'll never forget you for this."

"Says the woman who cooked my dinner every night when Maya was six weeks old."

I felt bad and grateful at the same time. "Okay, thanks. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

Worn out when I came home from Washington, still with no period in sight, I left everything in the car and crawled into bed, waiting for Edward's return. All I wanted was to feel his arms around me. When I woke up, hearing him call my name, I started crying, and he mistakenly thought something had happened to me.

It had.

I took the test the next morning, and a vivid blue line screamed the result so loudly, I had to concede we'd had an "oops." Edward received the news with a mixture of shock and pride that he'd impregnated me so fast, but one thing was certain—he was ecstatic to become a father, and that's all I needed to embrace the idea we were going to be a family.

We've agreed we'll wait to share our news until after the honeymoon, so we haven't told a soul yet, not even during the last three glorious lazy days where our house proved it's a wonderful venue for a group. We all had our own bedrooms and space to spread out in the living areas or out on the deck. We've harvested from our garden, used the smoker, and caught fish with our family and friends. With so much land, the boys spent time kicking a ball around, and some of us hiked up the mountain where we could see the huge valley beyond our boundary and the town of Red Lodge in the other direction. Sam, Emily and Maya stayed over one night and Angela, proud to declare her pregnancy, is clearly besotted with Maya.

Having had them around when we could relax and enjoy each other's company, I got exactly what I wanted for my wedding.

"Let him go, Bella." Angela approaches us, handing me a bouquet and feeding her arm through mine. "You'll see him soon, and Charlie is waiting."

"See you there, babe. I love you." Edward kisses my hand and heads over to where people are gathering for the ceremony.

"God, I adore him." I sigh as I watch him walk up to Emmett, who helps him on with his jacket, and everything looks gorgeous. The simple arch with its white flowers is going to be beautiful against the valleys beyond. This photographer had better be as good as the recommendations I've received.

"Can I get you anything first? A glass of champagne?" I guess she assumes I'm nervous when I was terrified last time I got married, but I've never been more sure of anything in my life.

"No, I'm fine. I want to remember every minute clearly. I won't be drinking today."

"Well, happy wedding day, my friend. You ended up with the perfect partner."

"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" I agree, my face one big smile when Emmett plants a kiss on Edward's cheek. All the closest men in my life are there around them, my past with my future, and a tear rolls down my cheek as one of them leaves the group and comes to me. My dad looks sharp on his way to officially give me away.

It was just a year ago I met a cocky, headstrong, cowboy who had me begging for more, but that Edward was only a fraction of the man I love today. In becoming part of his world, I found a home so perfect, I couldn't ask for anything more.

The end.

So that's it - a one shot that took me on an unexpected journey.

Thank you all so much for reading this tale and for putting up with the time between chapters. I have loved hearing from every one of you.

Until next time xo

Home For The Harvest has been voted into the Top 10 fics completed in March at www . twifanfictionrecs . com. Thank you so much for every vote :)