Acknowledgements: BelleBiter agreed to give this final chapter a look-see for me. She's simply the best—when she tells me like it is, she does it with a droll sense of humor that makes me laugh until my nose runs.

Huge thank yous (times 23) also goes out to winterhorses and AddictedToTwiFic for pre-reading and offering feedback.

A/N: And it's the epilogue! Thank you all for waiting so patiently. Like a Snickers candy bar satisfies hunger, here's to hoping that the epilogue satisfies you.

I feel both oddly displaced and nostalgic as I peek out the airplane's window at the outskirts of the city where I grew up. The neat fields of corn and grain, which look like a patchwork quilt from this vantage point, are eventually broken up by sprawling houses. I even spot a silo or two, something I haven't seen since the last time I was here.

Just after we glide over the 469 highway, I'm surprised to see that I recognize the trio of teal steeples of the Wallen Road church. But this is Fort Wayne: City of Churches. I've been in maybe three of them.

Sorry, God. But I still believe in you.

When the plane's wheels drop, the soft humming sound becomes a loud screech. I flinch back in my chair with a yelp, grabbing Edward's hand.

"Almost there, almost there," he croons at me, while trying to hide a grin. He's sympathetic to my fear of flying, but it doesn't keep him from laughing at me sometimes.

I close my eyes and let the sound of his voice calm me. Well, I try, anyway. I know I'm crushing his hand, but he's stronger than I am. He can take it.

"Your nipple is showing," he breathes in my ear just as we touch down.

My eyes snap open as we rumble down the tarmac, the horrible screeching turning into grinding as the plane's powerful brakes are applied. Before I can help myself, I glance down at my perfectly covered chest — I'm wearing a t-shirt under a sweater. Everything potentially embarrassing is covered.

Edward's eyes are bright as I lean over for a kiss. But before I pull away, I gently bite him.

"You suck," I grit.

"You love me," he says.

"Your fly's open."

He shakes his head at me sadly. "Amateur."

As soon as the plane comes to a stop and the seat belt light goes off, everyone seems to jump out of their seats like Jack-in-the-Boxes. I duck when the guy across the aisle flips the overhead compartment open, just in case something drops out onto my head. When someone's swinging duffle bag bangs Edward in the shoulder, I reach over and practically yank him into my lap.

"I really hate flying," I tell him with a sympathetic wince as I rub at the affected spot.

It's November in Indiana, and as the impatient passengers shuffle down the aisle, they shrug on fur-hooded coats or parkas. Every fourth person seems to be wearing a beanie and looking at a phone.

Edward and I remain seated because I'm afraid of getting run over. Also, because my death grip on him isn't letting him go anywhere. But then again, neither of us is exactly in a hurry to get off the plane. After ten years, coming back to Fort Wayne is going to be bittersweet.

We're here for Alice, and maybe for Emmett, because they've just lost their mom to cancer.

And we're here to visit Mom and Dad.

I haven't even gotten out of my seat, and already my insides are tangled up in knots.

Fort Wayne's airport is a breeze after navigating PVD and O'Hare. Yesterday Once More by the Carpenters fills the space throughout the A1 and A2 terminals, and I sing along until Edward claps a hand across my mouth.

There's only one restaurant, but it's more of a deli with tables. And there is a chocolate candy shop, which I drag Edward into because chocolate is definitely a necessity for this trip. If I get a zit or two, it will be a small price to pay for my sanity.

Then, we're standing at one of the only two baggage claim carousels, and I go dizzy watching the suitcases spin.

"That's your bag," Edward says as it passes me by.

"My eyes were crossed," I tell him as he darts after it.

When the guy behind the counter at Enterprise flirts with me, Edward gives me a playful stink eye.

"We want an SUV," he tells the guy. Then he slaps my behind hard enough to make me jump in surprise. "More room in the back."

"Oh my god, Edward," I huff, as we walk the lot in search of our car. "Are you going pee on my leg, too?"

"Nah, I'm not into that kinky stuff," he says and yanks me close for a kiss. I slide my cold hand under his shirt, and he flinches away from me with a hiss.

We're like kids again. It's this place, where we grew up. Also, it's probably because we're uneasy about what's going to happen when we see Emmett and Rose again. We're going to be seeing people who only know us as brother-and-sister — and after years of freedom to be with each other openly, it's going to be awkward and difficult having to behave like just siblings again.

It was an idea Edward flatly rejected at first. After so many years of just being who we are, he didn't think we would even be capable of doing it.

"But we should try," I'd explained. "It's not about denying who we are. It's about being respectful to people who are going to be grieving. Plus, I don't want us to be the couple others are going to whisper about, or look away from every time we happen to glance their way."

He didn't like it, and I didn't like it, but this is just another one of those times when who we really are to each other is going to sting.

God knows we should be numb to that by now.

Before we check in at our hotel, we drive around the neighborhood where we grew up. As we pass the Georgetown Square strip mall, I'm shocked to see how many storefronts are for rent.

"Doesn't look like they've caught up yet from the last recession," Edward murmurs.

After all the time I spent in the two shops, it breaks my heart that Tom's Doughnuts and Claire's Boutique are gone. The post office is still there, but the cinema has been replaced by a bowling alley. There's a tattoo shop where Randy's Movie Rentals used to be, and I wonder where Randy is now. He used to give us popcorn for free when we rented three or more movies.

All of these changes make me feel kind of old. And definitely sad.

The baseball and tennis fields look lonely. It's winter, so of course they're dark and empty, but the sight of them just makes the grip around my heart tighter.

I have to swallow back the tears when we see our old house. It's no longer white with blue trim, but a light taupe with darker brown trim. Two craftsman-style glass lanterns hang on either side of the solid wood panel front door. There's a glider on the porch, which has been expanded across the entire length of the house. The tire swing that used to hang from the maple tree is gone. Instead, earth-tone pavers in an intricate design surround the tree. From all the detail, it's obvious that that the lawn and plant beds have been professionally landscaped.

"It's beautiful," I choke.

Edward shrugs. "Dad would like it."

Everything here seems to have changed. The roots that anchored me are tearing loose and free. I feel like a stranger in a place I no longer recognize.

Edward turns to me, carries my hand to his mouth, and kisses my knuckles. What I'm feeling is reflected in his eyes. No one has ever understood me so well, and because he's with me, I don't feel so alone in my heavy heart anymore.

He is my home.

. . .

The McCarty's A-roof house with its castle-like turret hasn't changed much. The same trim bushes line either side of the house, which is still a brown-patterned brick with slate gray trim. Almost every window in the house spills light out onto the dark lawn.

We pull into the long winding driveway that is already crowded with cars, and park behind a sleek white sports coupe. The line of Audis, BMWs and Lexus vehicles looks like a concert of who's-who in town, and I'm kind of relieved that our rental is black, so we don't stick out so much.

"Doctors and lawyers and such, huh?" I joke with Edward as we walk to the door.

"Or drug pushers, gun runners and human traffickers."

The last person I expected to see answers our knock. Dressed toe-to-neck in black, Rose is as beautiful as ever. Her hair is a long, perfectly blunt-cut pageboy that just brushes her shoulders. As her eyes take us in coolly, Edward steps close enough to touch me.

"Rosalie," he says smoothly.

She inhales and exhales audibly, then nods stiffly before she backs up to allow us entrance. And I'm disappointed, because I can see that she still doesn't accept our relationship, although I must be an idiot to have hoped she would by now.

But at least she didn't slam the door in our faces.

"Wait here," she says, not even offering to take our coats before she strides away, leaving us feeling like unwanted guests lingering just inside the front door.

I see Edward stiffen beside me, and I want to bury my face against his chest. Across the way is a hall mirror, and I catch sight of our faces; we definitely look shocked, angry and out of sorts. I want to stomp my foot and scream. We're not here to hurt anyone.

As the minutes stretch, I feel like turning around to leave. My stomach feels sick. I feel degraded and wrong somehow. Edward grows more and more stony, and I hate that he's being made to feel this way, too.

I raise my hand and cup his cheek. He sighs, closes his eyes, and leans his face against the palm of my hand.

"Hi," a voice says, drawing our attention. A dark-haired lady wearing a brown wrap dress is looking at us inquisitively. "I'm Alice and Emmett's Aunt Terri. Who might you be?"

I clear my throat. "Bella and Edward Swan. We grew up with Alice and Emmett."

She nods, and her arms widen in welcome. "Well, come in, come in. Let me take your coats."

Edward and I hand her our coats, then catch hands briefly as we trade a look of resolve. We're here for Alice and Emmett. That's all.

Aunt Terri leads us to the great room, where everyone seems to be congregated. I spot Rose immediately. She's sitting beside Emmett's father, and when she sees us, her eyes go flat.

My face flushes, and my pulse is roaring in my ears.

She left us standing there on purpose. She never intended on bringing us inside.

She tried to humiliate us.

I want to slap her.

She'll never be just Rose to me again.

Breathe. Just breathe.

I nod and aim a cool smile her way, exactly like she greeted us at the door. I will not allow her to make me feel less than who I am.

People are clustered in groups. Although there must be more than twenty people in the room, it's a very quiet gathering. After a quick glance our way, most of them go back to their own conversations. I find that outside of Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett and Alice, and Mr. McCarty, I don't know anyone. Well, I guess there's Aunt Terri, who's bending over to whisper in someone's ear.

Alice stands from the couch where she was sitting, and spins around to face us. She looks utterly surprised to see us, and then her face crumples as she comes to us.

"Bella, Edward," she says. She's got us in a group hug, and her arms go a long way to soothe the hurt I'm feeling.

I wrap my arms around her just as hard, hoping my touch helps as well.

"I'm so glad you're here," she sniffs.

Jasper's behind her. He shakes Edward's hand, and then cocks his head while he grasps my shoulders.

"Sprock told me you'd come," he said, and I giggle.

"He was always the smarter of you two," I say, and then he's swaying me back and forth in a hug.

"Of course we came," I tell them both.

We haven't seen them since Christmas two years ago, but we keep in close enough touch that both he and Alice should have known we'd come.

"I didn't expect you to," Alice said. Her hands are cold and tight around mine when they grab mine. "Emmett…" She begins, and then shrugs, glancing back to where he's standing over in a corner with a couple of men.

I watch Emmett, as big and imposing as ever, as he claps one of the men on the shoulder, then moves our way. I suddenly go hot and cold. I haven't seen him since the day I came back to Fort Wayne for Rosalie's testimony during Mike's trial.

The day I caught her in Emily's arm's, the girl who'd had a crush on Rosalie. She'd been sobbing, and then they'd been kissing. Apparently Rosalie had had a crush on her, too. Anyway, that's the day she told me she never wanted to see me again.

"Ow," Alice says, as my fingers tighten around hers.

I can't help studying Emmett's face for signs of disgust, anger or hate as he walks towards us. His eyes are dark, his face drawn, but expressionless. His posture is easy and loose, but that might be because he obviously keeps in shape, so I can't tell what he's feeling.

My hands are fists against my stomach, and I know my eyes are showing my fear and unease when he stops in front of us.

"Hi, Emmett," I whisper. "I hope you don't mind if we're here."

His chest raises in a sigh, and his eyes close. "It's been a long time," he says. "I'm glad to see you."

My shoulders slump with relief.

"Can I… can I hug you?" I ask.

In answer, he steps forward and envelopes me in his arms. Like he did when we were kids, only this isn't playful, it's real and solid and warm.

"I'm so sorry," I say. "For everything."

He gives me a squeeze before he releases me, and I feel as if I've gotten a piece of my heart and my dignity back.

Then he's trading looks with Edward. They slowly reach out to each other and shake hands. And then they're doing the one-arm-man-hug thing, and smiling and nodding at each other.

"Edward. You look gorgeous as ever."

And I'm laughing through my tears, because Em's back.

"Emmett."

It's Rosalie. Her fingers curl around his bicep.

"Look, Rose, it's Bella and Edward," he says.

"So I see," she says coolly.

He gives her a look, but she doesn't back down an inch. If anything, her back only gets straighter.

"C'mon, babe. It's time to let it go, don't you think? They're still together. Doesn't that count for something?"

She doesn't even look at us as she answers. "It doesn't count for anything with me. It just means they've been living their disgusting life for ten years too long."

"Rose," Emmett hisses.

"You're a heinous bitch," Jasper growls.

But I've heard enough, and I don't want this to escalate. I grab Edward's hand.

"Alice, Jasper, we're going to go for now. I'll call you tomorrow."

"You don't have to leave," Alice says.

"Yes, they do," Rose says.

"No, they don't," Emmett snaps. "They came to see me and Alice, and they are welcome in this house."

And that's when I slowly, deliberately turn to face Rosalie.

"How is Emily?" I ask suggestively.

Her face turns a nice shade of beet red.

"Emily Emily?" Alice asks with a gasp.

"I haven't seen—"

"The one and only," I talk over Rosalie. "She and Rosalie were quite close on the day of Rosalie's testimony against Mike. I guess Emily got what she always wanted after all."

"You little—"

"We should go now," I say to Emmett. He glances at me, then returns to glaring at Rosalie.

I'm done with Rosalie's blind hate and negative energy. So we can just decide who we're attracted to, right? Obviously, her brand of love comes with a different free pass… as long as she doesn't get caught.

Alice and Jasper follow us to the foyer, and he goes to grab our coats.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I say to Alice as I give her a hug.

"I'm sorry about Rose," she whispers.

I shake my head at her. "Don't be, please. I'm not."

I'm sorry about your mom.

And so twenty minutes after arriving, we leave.

"We survived," I say to Edward as we drive back to the hotel.

His jaw flexes, a sure sign of anger. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," I say. "I admit that I hoped she would have changed her mind by now, but obviously she's a hypocritical, hateful bitch. And what she did to us tonight? Screw her. I'm finally done with her."

A slow, wicked grin spreads across his face. "Since Emmett's talking to us again, why not spill the beans about Emily and Rose the way she did about us?"

"I thought I just did," I say.

"Not really. You just implied. I think you should give Emmett the details."

I roll my eyes. "He'd probably just think it was hot."

"Not if Rose is still friends with Emily," he says slowly.

"Hmmm."

After all, Emmett deserves to know.

Edward's quiet, thinking things over, and then he huffs out a laugh.

"He said I'm gorgeous."

"Well, you are."

He's still got that riot of copper hair, and those high cheekbones and that cut jaw. Just looking at his profile can sometimes make me swoon. In fact, I think he's better looking now than he was years ago. He still has to almost beat women back with a stick.

Literally.

There was a female co-worker — Kate something-or-other — who tried to seduce him. Then, she tried to get him fired when he shot her down; she accused him of sexual harassment. It was an awful time for Edward.

It was an awful time for me, too, because I just couldn't see why a woman would have any grounds to accuse Edward of such a thing, especially if he was so in love with me. It was the first time I ever even thought I could have a reason to doubt him. In the end, he convinced me by showing me how she had accosted him; the words she said to him, how she just kept advancing on him, touching him, pressing herself against him.

I'd been full of rage. I'd wanted to hunt her down and smack her down. Instead, he'd let me tie him to our bed, and have my angry way with him.

The company ended up settling with her for an undisclosed amount, even though Edward wasn't guilty. But he said that they didn't want to go to court due to the cost of a legal defense, and the bad press a trial would have caused. So some whore who just couldn't take no for an answer got rewarded for it.

I hope she burns in hell.

"You should buzz your hair," I'd told him. "And then walk around scowling. No one would bother you then."

Shortly after the settlement, we moved from Indiana when Edward's boss said he'd promote him if he'd transfer to the plant in Providence, Rhode Island. We were ready for a change, so we jumped at the chance. They made him some kind of development manager, and now he makes almost twice the salary he used to.

So I like to think that he got a reward out of the mess, too.

It's early when we get back to the hotel, and we're finally hungry. But we both feel like hiding out, so we order room service and watch a movie.

Our love making that night is soft, slow and gentle. It's always been so clear to me, inevitable really, that I am meant to be with him. I feel it every time we come together like this.

"I love you so damn much," I murmur.

He bends his head to kiss my collarbone, which sends a thrill of sensation through my body. When he bites it, I arch against him, digging my nails into his back. Moaning, he brings one of my legs up, hooking my ankle over his shoulder.

"I love you more than I did yesterday," he gasps against my ear.

We move against each other slowly, drawing it out and going deeper, until we're shuddering against each other and breaking apart in the best of ways.

Then we fall asleep like we always do: entwined, naked, skin-on-skin.

. . .

"My wife's a bigot," Emmett tells us over dinner two days later. "But I can't complain too much, because up until a short while ago, I was, too."

He, Alice, Jasper, Edward and I are at Casa D'Angelo, my favorite Italian restaurant in Fort Wayne. I've missed their Insalata Caprese so much. And their fried ravioli.

"We don't want to talk about Rosalie," Edward says. "How are you doing, Emmett?"

Emmett teaches high school football in Ohio. He thinks he has a pro-player in one of his students. And… he and Rosalie have two boys, a four and a seven year old. He's hoping at least one of them is a football player.

Despite his bigoted wife, he seems well.

But if Rose is angry enough to hold a grudge this long against old friends, I wonder if they'll still be married ten years from now. I don't think she understands that love is about forgiving.

We already know Alice and Jasper have a child: Melanie, a little girl who has Jasper's eyes and blond curls. She came two-and-a-half years ago, after Alice and Jasper had struggled for years to have a baby. They treat her like the miracle she is, and she calls me Aunt Bewwa.

"So," Emmett says and clears his throat. "Are you guys ever going to have kids? Like, fostering or adopting or something?"

Edward and I trade a look. We have three cats and a dog at home, but we've found that over the years, we want a little someone to raise.

"We, uh, we're in the process of adoption," Edward says. "I mean, we're trying to get approved for adoption."

Edward will be a wonderful father. I want that for him more than anything right now. I've even prayed for it.

"Rhode Island doesn't frown on sibling couples," I say, while fingering the stem of my wine glass. "We can't get married, but we're hoping to adopt a little boy."

Jasper and Alice already know this. They've vouched as character references for us.

"Wow," Emmett says. "Um. Wow."

He looks uncomfortable then, and makes a production about pushing a piece of chicken around on his plate.

"What is it, Em? You can ask us anything," I say.

We have nothing to hide, not from him. Not from Alice or Jasper, either.

He shoves the bite of chicken in his mouth and studies me, and then Edward. I've never seen such a thoughtful eater before.

"Oh, the suspense," Jasper says in Sprock's voice.

Alice slaps his arm.

Emmett swallows with a gulp, then grabs and wads up his napkin. "What, um, what are you going to tell it? The kid?"

Edward's jaw is ticking. I place my hand against his thigh, and his leg stops bouncing.

It's a legitimate question.

"We'll be Mom and Dad," I say. "No one in Rhode Island, other than the adoption agency, knows Edward and I are siblings. That's not all we are, Emmett. That's not even the biggest part of us. So as far as our potential child will know, we will only be Mom and Dad."

Edward is still bristling. "Does that answer your question?" he grits.

Emmett drops the napkin and holds his hands up. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean to offend you."

I shake my head. "I would have wondered the same thing."

Emmett trades frowns with Edward. "You gotta cut me some slack, Edward. All the time I've ever spent with the both of you has been as… brother and sister. It's a lot to wrap my mind around."

Alice comes to her brother's rescue. "It was for me, too. Just give him a little time to acclimate, please? He's trying."

"Okay, okay," Edward say, and his shoulders relax. "I'm just not used to being questioned anymore."

"He's not," I grin. "He's a project manager. People jump at his command."

"Not exactly," Edward says. "That's not what I meant, Bella."

"What'd you mean then?" Emmett asks.

Edward's hand comes to rest on mine, his fingers inserting themselves between mine. "I'm not used to our relationship being questioned, or being looked down upon."

"That's understandable," Jasper says, but he's looking at me. "It's obvious to anyone with eyes and ears that the two of you are in love and happy; that you finally feel free, right? And… that you feel as if you're in the world and not just on it."

Oh my god.

Jasper just repeated a conversation I had with him once about what being in love should feel like.

His eyebrow is arched, and he's got a heavy smirk on his face. And I grin hard, because I'm right there with him.

"I'm sorry it took me so long," Emmett says. "I think part of the reason why I had trouble accepting your relationship was because I felt duped. I mean, I should've seen it. You two were always so close. But then… I found out, and it was like I'd been kicked in the gut. It didn't feel like I knew who you were anymore."

He's looking at Edward.

"I wish I could have told you," Edward says. "I'm sorry I didn't. I… really should have."

There's a pause in the conversation as we all take a sip of our drinks. Alice and I trade a look, and I have to fight not to break out into nervous giggles.

"So," Emmett drawls. "How about them Cavaliers?"

Edward scoffs. "Nah, how about them Knicks?"

"Oh, screw you both," Jasper says. "How about them Bulls!"

Alice and I begin to talk about So You Think You Can Dance, how hot Twitch is, and how Paula Abdul will never be able to replace Mary Murphy. But soon Edward, Emmett and Jasper are involved in a heated debate about which basketball team is going to win the season. It's a back-and-forth discourse that I haven't seen from them in, well, ten years or so.

And I don't know much about basketball, but I'm pretty sure the Cavaliers have it this year.

. . .

The Concordia Cemetery is beautiful, quiet and cold the next morning as Edward and I face the twin headstones of our parents.

Renee Leann Higgenbotham
In Loving Memory

And

Charles Thomas Swan
Gone but Not Forgotten

We place the mementos we brought in front of their stones, then huddle together. I swallow past the pain in my throat, because I have something to say to them.

"Mom, Dad," I begin in a thin voice. "We miss you both so much. We hope you don't mind that we've moved so far away, but you should know that we're happy."

"Very happy," Edward adds, pressing me tighter against his chest.

"We, uh, we have something to confess," I say.

"Something that we're not sorry about," Edward says.

"Edward and I fell in love. We… love each other."

"I love her deeply. More than I love my own life."

I sniff and smile up at him with watery eyes. I'm not going to be able to continue if he keeps breaking in like this.

"We would have told you, Dad. One day, I promise we would have told you. We never wanted to keep anything from you."

"We didn't plan it," Edward says. "It just happened."

"And we never want to make you ashamed of us, so I hope you're not. Please don't be ashamed of us," I whisper.

As the years have passed, I've grown more and more certain that while there's a possibility Dad might have eventually learned to accept our relationship, things would never have been the same between us. And it fills me with guilt, because maybe his death was the best thing that could have happened for all of us.

It's a thought I just can't forgive myself for.

Edward warms my mouth with his and wipes my tears away.

"You'd be proud of Bella, Dad. She's a graphic designer with an advertising firm. She worked on that spring campaign about the state of Nevada. Maybe you've heard that song, Don't Fence Me In?"

I giggle softly.

"Mom, you'd love what Edward does with metal scraps. He made a 16-piece chess set. Ashton Kutcher saw a photo of it online, and he wants to buy it, but Edward won't sell it."

"Damn right I won't," Edward mutters. "Took me six months to make that set."

"And, um, we're trying to adopt a little boy from Uganda," I say hesitantly.

Would they approve of us bringing up a child?

"He lost his entire family in a cattle raid. And, well, we're ready to start a family."

Edward takes a breath. "Donna, the lady at the adoption agency, says we've got a good chance. Of course, she knows we're siblings, but she says we're well-adjusted financially and emotionally, that we're more than suited to be good parents."

His eyes are fiercely proud and loving as he looks at me. I hope with everything inside of me that he has reason to feel that way. That a year from now, a little boy will call him daddy.

"We're just waiting on the state's stamp of approval. Wish us luck," I say.

The wind kicks up then, and it's warm against my face. I blink up at Edward in surprise, and he's giving me the same look.

"What was that?" I ask him.

"I don't know."

We turn our heads to stare down at the headstones. I know the caretakers will throw them away, but for now, the origami flowers I made for Mom and Dad are still propped up against their stones, undisturbed.

"Was that them?" I ask.

And I close my eyes and relax, trying to see if I can feel them here with us. I hear Dad's deep, gentle laughter in my mind, and I imagine the way Mom used to smooth her hand down my hair.

"Of course it was them," Edward whispers against my ear. "They'll always be with us, Bella."

So we choose to believe that it was them.

That it is them.

And that they still love us.