Epilogue

The sun broke through the clouds, enhancing the warmth of the late March day.

Bella watched the rays as they touched the people who stood nearly half a mile away from where she sat in an ancient pine. She hugged her knees, pulling them closer to her body, her back resting against the rough bark of her perch.

She was careful, not breathing as she watched the assembly.

This was her first trip outside of the forest where she hunted with her new family. It was the first time she'd been allowed to be this close to humans.

But today was special for other reasons.

Her eyes drifted back toward the cemetery, and if tears were possible, they would have been drifting silently down her cheeks as she watched Charlie and Sue. They stood at the marble marker the Masens had put up in December, arms around each other. Charlie's fingers were grasping Sue's arm in desperation.

Sue whispered in his ear, moving her hands to run them through his hair, until with a nod, Charlie released Sue and leaned forward, tracing the letters that had been carved into the stone. A tear rolled down his cheek, and Bella heard him when he said, "I miss you, Bells."

Sue stroked his shoulder lovingly.

Bella was surprised to see Renee, who had been hanging back, step forward. She touched Charlie's other shoulder. "She knows, Charlie."

"I shouldn't have stopped looking for her," he said, a sob breaking through. "She could still be out there, lost and alone."

Phil stepped to Renee's side, and patted Charlie's back. "It's been six months. You've been searching the entire time. You've done everything a father can do."

"What do you know about being a father? Or about Bella for that matter? It will never be enough," Charlie growled.

The hand Phil had placed on Charlie's shoulder dropped suddenly, and his face took on a look of defeat.

Bella's attention was pulled from them when she heard tires crunching on the gravel of the road in the cemetery, and she looked toward the familiar car. As it stopped, Elizabeth stepped out of the passenger side, and Ed came around to help her as she lifted a familiar marble urn out of the vehicle.

They approached Bella's parents, and a low murmur of acknowledgements flowed through the group.

"When will everyone else be here?" Elizabeth asked.

Renee hugged her. "Soon. Jess and Mike had to get the baby ready, and Ben and Angela were just leaving their house when I talked to them. The memorial won't start for another half-hour, but Charlie wanted to give those closest to Bella and Edward a little time first."

Bella felt the branch beneath her move, and soon Edward's arms coiled around her, pulling her close to his side.

"They miss us," she said.

"I know." He pointed at his head. "Your dad is beside himself. He thinks it's his fault that you're gone. If he only knew."

"None of that," Bella said, turning to kiss him. "This is where I'm meant to be, and we both know it."

A tell-tale chuckle from Emmett gave him away.

"I think we all know how much you're enjoying her this way, Eddie Boy," he said.

Edward hissed and glared at Emmett in the next tree. Rose covered her mouth, laughing quietly behind her hand.

Jasper and Alice were in the tree on the other side, and Bella heard the slight giggle that came from that direction. Carlisle and Esme were in the tree behind Bella's, and she smiled when she heard Esme's shushing hiss.

The sound of another car pulling into the drive distracted her, and Bella watched Mike lift a carseat out of the back of the Volvo. She could hear the mewling noises of a content baby, and could see a tiny hand waving in the air above the pink blanket.

They were soon joined by Ben and Angela, who had arrived immediately after Mike and Jessica. Her best friends held hands as they walked to the gravesite together.

Renee saw the group, and moved to join them, cooing at the baby.

"How's our little Sarah Bella?" she asked.

"She's fine now," Jessica said with a smile "We had to go back and change her outfit before we could get out of the driveway. Second time today."

Liz chuckled. "Typical. Nothing like a baby to remind us that we aren't really in control of anything."

Bella smiled. "They're good parents. I knew they would be."

"Are you sorry you can't be close enough to see the baby?"

She shook her head. "I can see her well enough from here. I wouldn't want to do anything that could hurt them."

"Did you hear her name?"

Bella could feel the venom gathering in her eyes again, though she knew it would never form a tear. "I did."

"They will never forget you, Bella."

"I know."

She pointed to where Angela stood. Ben had his arm around her shoulder, keeping her close.

"She hasn't told them, but I can hear it," she said.

"Another baby," Edward said, and she nodded.

"Angela's turn."

"Any regrets about that?" he asked, moving the ring on her finger from side to side.

Bella sighed. "I know I should probably feel sad that we can't have children, Edward, but I never wanted that. I was scared of being married, let alone being in charge of another human being."

A laugh from the group in the cemetery pulled her attention back to them.

"And then she was sprawled out on the ice. Edward tried and tried to help her up, but that only resulted in both of them soaking wet on the ground," Jessica said. "I've never laughed so hard in my life."

"It's true. Edward wouldn't give up on her. He got her back on her skates that night, and helped her around the rink three or four more times before he let her quit." Mike's voice lowered, and he finished his thought, "He never gave up on her. No matter how hard she fought against him, he pushed back, forced her to face her fears."

Liz smiled. "He loved her so much. There's no way he'd ever give up on her. And she never gave up on him, either. Never."

Liz's face turned up, and she scanned the sky, lowering her gaze to the tops of the trees where they sat.

Bella flinched as her eyes passed over them.

"Human eyes can't see us here," Edward assured. "You don't need to worry."

"But it's like she knows we're here."

He shrugged. "In a way she does."

Edward's mother spoke again. "I know he was waiting for her, wherever she went. He would never leave her on her own. And she wanted to be with him, whatever it took."

All of the people who meant most to Bella agreed.

They turned to watch as more cars arrived, and the people they knew started to file in.

Bella was amazed at the number of people who had come to say goodbye. Wes was there, with his wife. So was Brad, along with his fiancé – they'd flown up from Nevada, apparently. Bella and Edward's neighbors came. And a lot of co-workers from both of their firms.

Among the noise of the group, there were a few whispers that she found disturbing.

"I can't believe they are holding a memorial when there's no body," one person said.

"Her dad is a policeman, and they can't find her. That has to be embarrassing."

She looked to Edward, and he rolled his eyes.

"There was no body to find, or he would have," he growled.

Angela's father made his way to the front of the crowd, and the people started to quiet.

He cleared his throat, and began. "We are here today in remembrance of Isabella Marie Swan, our daughter and friend, and the love of her life, Edward Masen."

Bella listened intently as he spoke, hoping his words would soothe her parents.

~X~X~X~X~X~

Bella watched as the workers left the cemetery, a noisy truck pulling a trailer with the tractor they had used to cover the vault.

Her friends - and Edward's - had said goodbye and had gone home. Ed and Elizabeth had finally interred the urn that contained unknown ashes. Charlie had finally given up his search.

And both their families had a place to mourn them now.

When the coast was clear, she leapt out of the tree, landing lightly on the ground below. The rest of her family joined her, and Edward took her hand in his.

"Wait until the sun goes down," he advised. "It won't be much longer."

"Do you think Charlie found the note?" she asked.

Edward shrugged. "Alice said she left it on the seat in his cruiser, as you asked. I doubt he'll find it before tomorrow."

And she had asked. She'd begged with them to allow her to send him just one message.

You are the best father a person could wish for. Everything is as it should be.

So, with the knowledge that the ties to her human life were truly cut, Bella waited until the shadows were long, and the light in the cemetery was dim. This was the last time she would walk in this place – at least until those she had known here were long buried. The entire Cullen family was leaving for Alaska in the morning.

As she approached the marker that had been placed in her honor, and Edward's, her eyes fixed upon the engraving. The words made her laugh and cry at the same time.

Edward Anthony Masen

And

Isabella Marie Swan

Now They Have Forever

~L~F~H~

Happy New Year!

I must apologize for not posting this epilogue sooner. Life, you know? It is un-beta'd, and all mistakes are my own.

Thank you to all of those who have read and reviewed.