D: Disclaimed

A/N: This is the last chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Three

~*~*Edward*~*~

I've been here before.

The pain. The agony. The loss.

When does it stop? Will it ever stop? Will I ever cope with the idea of being put in this predicament more than once? Will it be the last?

I've grown tired of these questions. So why do I keep asking them expecting an answer?

It's more like numbness now. I'm okay with the numbness though. Sometimes feeling nothing after the searing burn is better than the constant breaking. The pulsing throbs that feel like my body is ready to explode, or the agony of my veins trying to push broken shards through, tearing my insides, all of what I hope would be the last.

Yeah, the numbness is so much better.

This time it feels like everything is in reverse. I'm sure that the venom that is supposed to infect every part of me is being pushed back. It's like the struggle to cleanse whatever is left. At least I hope.

Then there are the voices. The warmth I once knew keeps coming back to me like a tidal wave. One voice in particular is my hope, the one I can always count on to bring me back to reality. It's my call to freedom. I know this time that the journey back would be easier because I know who exactly is waiting for me. So no, I won't stop fighting; I won't stop struggling to get o that point to where I know I'll be safe once again.

I guess it's my mentality that won't let me lose this fight. I've come too far just give it all up right here and now. I know that Carlisle is working around the clock to help me out too, and I'm sure that he wouldn't give up on me either. I put my faith in the vampire I'm sure that has a heart, the compassion of a father fighting for his son.

Now this happens? The blurred visions of what I should be able to see. It felt as if I was on some sort of heavy morphine. Like I had been drugged again just to forget where I was. But everything was happening so fast. An adrenaline building enough to make me panic, causing my heart to race, by body to shake uncontrollably until I feel a jolt of energy shake me to the core. I can feel the rush. My chest tightening and releasing until my lungs burst a bubble of air through my esophagus, causing me to gasp for air, pulling myself forward just as my eyes open to the blinding lights in front of me.

I'm awake, but I struggling to catch my breath.

In that brief moment, I could only see the mask being brought to my face to cover my mouth and my nostrils, providing me the one thing I needed; Oxygen.

As I work to even my breaths, the lights begin to finally dim and my sight becomes clearer. The voices become clearer. The room becomes familiar. Faces become familiar. With every calming breath, I feel the warmth that caresses my hand, the lips that softly kiss my forehead, the sobs that are almost like music to me ears. The warmth that wraps around me just as I wrap my arms around it, assuring me that everything is going to be fine from then on. But most of all, my favorite is the smile and the teary eyes that can look so easily into my soul. Jacob.

"I knew you'd come back to me." His smile was infectious.

"I knew you'd wait." I smiled back, reaching my hand up to his face to wipe the tears. "You always knew when to come at the right time."

"I was almost too late this time." He muttered, covering his face as he leaned into my shoulder.

"But you weren't." I ran my hand through his scalp, "you're here, just like you always promised."

I winced, my face squinting from the pain coming from my neck. My hand reached for the pain to soothe it, only to come across the cotton bandage wrapped around my neck. A tear fell down my cheek as I realized the searing agony of the wound from the vampire bite I now remembered.

"Carlisle says that will heal in time." Jacob comforted me, "you're not as invincible as you used to be." He chuckled, "he wants you to take everything slow and let your body relax."

"What happened?" I looked at Jacob unsure. "With Aro?"

"He's gone."

"How?"

"I took care of him myself." The words seethed, "I lost it the moment I thought I lost you."

"What about the other's?" I asked a bit worried.

Jacob didn't want to say much about the outcome other than we won. According to Carlisle, word had spread about the cure, and the vampire community is a bit shook about it. Those who want it are seeking it out, but those who are against it have been carefully hunting their prey, succumbing to animals to feed their diets. A big step from what was compared to about a year ago.

Me, I'm not entirely sure how I felt about it. As I continued to heal through the days spent at the manor, those who visited, or those who could at the moment informed me of the changes that seemed to be happening. Because of the two that had been cured, they too have come across a few others that have been cured, spreading faster than they expected.

Which is why I have been watched around the clock along with Emmett and Rosalie who have been under the scope to make sure that the cure is fully attainable. I guess it really depends on me if I can fully recover from this that they will fully embrace this and pass it on properly. Until then, my safety is still their main priority.

Which is why I was limited to Jacob, Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme to visiting. Which is why I kind of felt lonely to see the others. But Jacob has actually been making it a bit tolerable by staying by my side, giving us more time to actually discuss what he had said before he went into battle.

"I'll have to wait a few years though." He muttered, kissing the back of my hand as he lay next to me. "Just to be sure."

"What about the pack?" I asked.

"What about them?"

"How do they feel about you giving it all up just for me, especially when I didn't ask you to." I replied with guilt, "I just don't want you to regret anything."

"Listen," he shuffled then leaned forward to make eye contact. "Eventually we will all be making these type of choices, it's just mine has come sooner than expected, and I'm okay with that. They're okay with it."

"What about the future of the pack?" I debated, "who's to say that the vampire species doesn't continue to build if the cure is lost in some way. There's no guarantee that this will make things better."

"You're right," he agreed, "but for now, we know it will slow down to the point that vampires will become mere extinct. It will take them years to rebuild what they have lost. If they return in numbers, then our future generation will step in when it is needed, but this time we'll be ready."

"How?"

"We protect the cure." He replied, "as it goes, we'll make sure that the cure will always be there, and we will make sure that it spreads once again."

"But that's only a guarantee if I can survive this." I replied subtly. "I know that I'm here, but does this mean I will be fully human?"

"Carlisle believes so." He pulled me in closer. "Which means you can finally have your life back."

"Not exactly." I replied disappointed. He looked at me with confusion. "I'm talking about my father. Bella. My friends. The ones I left behind. As far as they know, I'm dead and I can never see them."

"I thought you said your dad knows about the situation." He asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure if he been informed yet that I've come this far. Unless Carlisle has been keeping him in the loop, I could never be sure if he knows if I'm here still."

"You could ask him." He suggested.

"As much as I want to, I don't really know where to begin with this all." I thought out, "I'd still need to hide my existence from others."

"Not necessarily." He smiled, "we could come up with some sort of alibi."

"Like what?" I stared at him curiously.

"Long lost twin?" He shrugged, "doppelgänger? Who knows?"

"Sounds a bit risky." I replied.

"We'll figure it out in time," he hugged me again, "but for now, can we just please live in the moment?"

"Yeah," I gave him a smile, "I'd like that."

As the days passed, my wounds had become vivid reminders, scars that hopefully one would disappear. Though in a way, as I look at the rigid bumps on my skin, I've come to accept them as my battle scars; my proof of existence. A reminder of just how far I have come, and what dangers I've overcome to become the human I am.

Jacob remains as my support, and has offered to discuss with Carlisle on how I could adjust to my new life. As it goes, my father has been constantly updated of my achievements just as he requested. The fact that I am human once again –facing no diseases whatsoever- has been his highlight. They all have been working on an alibi for my return, and soon I'd be able to go home, it's just right now, I'm not exactly sure where that might be.

The last place I did call home was Jacob's, but living with his father seemed a bit selfish for the both of us. I couldn't ask Jacob to move out either because I knew Billy still needed him. Then I thought about going back to my father's, but even then I wasn't sure because it has been so long since I have been there. It already felt as if I should be on my own, but I didn't want to do it alone.

Little did I know that Carlisle and Esme had been planning something for Jacob and me that neither of us knew about. Though neither of us were sure about it, we agreed to accept whatever it may be when the time came for me to be released. Whatever it was, everyone seemed to have known about it, including Billy. Jacob mentioned that everyone has been so secretive that it has been driving him crazy.

Emmett and Rosalie have been adjusting well enough. They planned to move to Seattle as soon as they get the go-ahead from Carlisle. Until then, they seem to be anxious to be planning their future together. For once, since the whole chaos took place for all of us, Emmett was able to speak to me in private about our past. I didn't expect anything, but he thanked me for given him another chance with Rosalie, even though he felt he didn't deserve it. He was grateful that I had come into their lives and even apologized for the way he treated me in high school. I've never had any siblings to call mine, but ever since that day, he vowed that he accepted me as his brother and would be there for me if I ever did need him. I thanked him and wished him the best.

Jasper and Alice have been a rock through all of this. With everything taking place, they've been keen on working together to spread the cure, especially foreseeing those who would seek them out to do so. The moment I would leave would be the chance for them to help others who wanted to become human again. With Rosalie and Emmett's help, they were able to take some more samples.

I suggested to Carlisle and Alice that they should come to agreements to any of those who seek them out. Any vampire that is cured with their assistance would agree to give their own blood samples to continue on the cure. Of course, they would leave protected with the cure still running through their system until and if they become fully human like me.

Then came the surprise that I've been waiting for. The fact that Jacob was informed of it before me was a bit unfair as I thought, but I accepted it knowing that Jacob believed I was going to love every bit of it.

According to the plan, Jacob would escort me to the location. I was to be blindfolded until then, which meant that Alice would be riding with us until we arrived. Though she may have slightly annoyed me by saying how much I was going to love it, I couldn't help but be excited to just what it might be. So I was left listening to Alice talk about how hard everyone worked on it, and who all helped make it possible.

"Oh god!" I gasped.

"What is it?" Jacob asked me worried just as Alice had.

"Is this what I think it is?" I muttered, my blindfold still blocking my vision.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked almost too innocently.

"I could only think of one reason why you're here with us Alice." I admitted, "does this mean you're bringing me to some place to change?"

"Change?" Jacob asked.

"I-I-I…"

"Whoa, whoa, sweetie." Alice giggled, "don't get too overwhelmed, I'm sure that you're far off."

"What is it?" Jacob asked.

"Could you have at least let me pick out my own outfit?" I mumbled to Alice.

"Wouldn't I have if it was what you're thinking?" She placed her ice-cold hands on my arm. "I'm not that selfish."

"What are you guys talking about?" Jacob asked confused.

"Oh he thinks were taking him to your guys' wedding." Alice replied nonchalantly.

Just then I could hear the tires squeal as the brakes were slammed, almost causing me to go face first against the dash before I could feel Jacobs arms wrap around me to stop me.

"Wait, wait, baby," He pulled off my blindfold, making it difficult to adjust to the brightness. "I would never let them take that day from you without their consent."

I finally was able to make eye contact, "so we're not getting married?"

"Not today." He chuckled. "But soon."

"Really?" I looked at him surprised.

"Yeah, I did promise you everything." He gave his signature dimpled grin. "We're just taking it one day at a time."

Before I could say anything else, or question anything for that matter, Alice had already put the blindfold back on. "And I'm sure I'll be planning that out for you guys as well."

I laughed just as Jacob had. There was no arguing with her on that. The idea of marrying Jacob used to sound farfetched because I could never picture myself finding that perfect somebody, but now that I have, I didn't realize just how close it was for the both of us. Now that it was legal in every state, there really wasn't anything stopping us other than the proposal, but I was sure in time that would come.

"We're here." Alice said gleefully.

"Where are we exactly?" I asked.

"Nice try Edward," Alice giggled again, "you'll find out soon enough."

"Watch your step." Jacob informed as he grabbed onto my hand until my feet touched the ground.

"What smells so good?" I sniffed the air, realizing we were at some sort of barbeque.

"This." Jacob said as he pulled off the blindfold.

Once again I couldn't see much. I came to a shock when I heard the surrounding crowd yell 'Surprise!' By then I realized that we were surrounded by everyone, Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, the pack, Sue, Billy, Chief Swan, even Bella. It was her that came running to me to give me a hug before I could comprehend what was really going on.

"I am so happy to see you." She sobbed into my shoulder, "I can't believe you're alive."

"It's good to see you to Bells." I chuckled. "I hope you understand why I had to do what I had to."

"Of course." She pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes. "After Seth told me about him imprinting on me, he eventually had to explain everything about you too. I just can't believe that you're here…"

"Okay Bells," Seth chuckled walking up behind her, pulling her off of me, "there's other's who would like to see Eddie too."

"Hey Seth." I smiled, giving him a quick hug.

"Edward," he nodded, "man it's good to see you breathing again."

"Edward?" I stood in shock as I realized just who had called for me. Standing barely five feet from me was the man I had missed dearly. My father. "Father?"

Rather than saying anything else, I raced towards him and wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. I couldn't help but let the tears fall, and he felt the same. The emotions were so overwhelming that I was about to believe that reality was playing tricks on me. I couldn't believe that my father was standing in front of me once again.

"Oh how I missed you son." He held onto me tight. "I never thought there would be a day that I would get to see you again."

"I missed you father." I sobbed. "I'm so glad you're here."

"I want you to know that I made the decisions I had to make because I felt it was best for you," He rambled on, "I didn't want you to hate me for choosing a different life for you."

"Dad?" I finally looked at him, "it's okay. I'm fine, and it's because of you. I can't thank you much. I've come full circle, and now I am so ready to live my life."

"I am so happy to hear that." He hugged me once again.

"So…" Esme stood behind us, innocently as she smiled with Carlisle next to her, "what do you think?"

I couldn't do anything other than nod and smile, still wiping the tears as they fell before hugging her too. "Everyone is here…" I chuckled, "thank you."

"I mean about the house?" She moved aside a little, revealing the structure that stood behind all of us in plain sight.

"What about? Who's?" I looked at her confused.

"I guess we should explain it to you." Alice chimed in, stepping behind me along with Jacob. "We decided to work together in making sure that you had something to come home to. So with the packs help, and being able to pull a few strings… well… I'm going to let Jacob tell you."

I looked up at Jacob with his massive grin, "welcome home Edward!"

"Home?" I stared at the house in awe, "this? This is ours?"

"Do you like it?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah, kind of looks like Sam's, but bigger." I smiled. "Was that intentional?"

"Blame your vampire family." He chuckled.

"We're a little guilty on that part." Carlisle spoke up, "we figured that if we can make a few additions, we would."

"Thanks, all of you." I smiled before being practically dragged in by Alice and Bella.

Being at this point really has highlighted how far I've come in my life, and the people who had come into it. I could remember that it wasn't too long ago that I kept to myself because I didn't know how to live the life that was giving to me. I lived in fear because I set my own fate without doing anything to change it. The sad thing was, it took me dying more than once just realize how blessed I really was. As I look at Jacob, I can't help but be grateful for all of this.

The house was far better than I expected it to be. I found out that it basically sat on the borderlines of where the treaty used to be. I couldn't imagine anything bigger than two bedrooms and a garage; something that would fit perfectly for Jacob and myself, but it was much bigger. There were two floors with two bathrooms and four bedrooms and a garage. When I questioned why, Jake simply replied that eventually he hopes to still have a family with me. For the first time, I didn't argue with him.

Esme fixed up the landscape with flowers and trees that surrounded the fenced area that led to behind the house, which led to the backyard where picnic tables sat along the area with a barbecue gazebo had been built in the back. By then everyone had moved the party in the back, which was decorated as well.

"Something tells me that this will be the pack's hangout for awhile." I teased Jake.

He shrugged.

"It's a lot bigger than our place," Sam teased.

"I'll still be here to help." Emily added as she stood next to Sam.

"Now that you're the alpha's imprint, it'll be your job to feed us now." Jared leaned over and nudged me with his imprint in his arm.

"Yeah right Jared." Jacob laughed, "no one can afford to feed you."

"Don't scare him." Kim chimed in.

"Don't worry Jared," I added, with a wink. "I'll fix you something special everyday."

"Is that a joke?" He asked with a worried face as Kim giggled and dragged him away. "He's kidding right?"

With the party settling in, it seemed that everyone had their fill before they began to leave one by one. With the few that stayed a little longer, I soon confirmed that Seth had indeed imprinted on Bella. It took him awhile to admit it to her, but after Seth phased, he imprinted on her the moment he saw her after his return. She admitted that it was a bit strange in the beginning, but after she gave Seth a chance, you couldn't even tell that she was a few years older than him. I could definitely see that they were in love.

With Jacob being full-time alpha, meant that he was constantly busy, and I knew to expect it. Our love life was as I expected as well, well actually a little more than that. Whenever he had the chance, and whenever he wasn't tired from patrols, he would often cater to me and make love to me. Our futures were always in discussion as well, which meant he wanted to make sure to build a foundation for us until then. Which meant I wanted to get a job at least until I figured out exactly what I wanted to do. After shadowing Carlisle for a while, I decided I'd go to university and become the next doctor, hoping I'd be ready when Carlisle would decide to leave Forks again.

Rosalie and Emmett have been succeeding in their paths. After a couple years of Rosalie becoming a teacher, she gave us the good news that her and Emmett were expecting. Emmett kept in touch with me and updated me often about him becoming one of the top lawyers in Seattle.

By the time they were on their second child, Jacob and Sam decided to call it quits. Since business had booming for the both of them, Jacob had his own mechanic shop just as Sam took over the logging company close-by. Which after two years into my schooling, I decided I would finish off my last two years in Seattle. Which became the hardest times for Jacob and I and tested our relationship as it was.

The distance was killing the both of us and Jake would visit as often as he could. He understood that I was fully dedicated to finishing off and moving home. Thankfully, Emmett and Rosalie helped by letting me stay with them until I moved back home. I came close with the both of them along with their son and daughter.

With my graduation coming close, Rose and Emmett came to me with a gift I least expected. It was Rose's idea more so, but it change the fact that I would need to discuss this with Jacob. They promised us a child. I didn't understand in the beginning, but it was Rose's way of returning the one thing I had given her, life. She offered to by my surrogate if Jacob and I ever wanted to have a child closer to us.

But after the graduation and finally discussing it with Jacob, he seemed to be on board. We were both happy to accept their gift, but that left one thing out that I hadn't expected either, well not so soon. Jake finally proposed at my graduation celebration back home in Forks. Once again, everyone came home to celebrate, congratulating me and welcoming me back home. Seth and Bella were expecting their first just as Jared and Kim were on their third, just as Sam and Emily recently had their third child.

I guess Jacob felt it was the right moment, and I couldn't have been happier. I was glad that he waited until now; otherwise I would've been overwhelmed with a wedding and my schooling at the time.

It took more than I expected to adjust in becoming Dr. Mason, soon Dr. Black. The scheduling was hectic in the beginning, but after a few months, I became attuned to my schedule. Thankfully Alice had come to the rescue with the wedding plans she basically took over.

I married Jacob not too long after my twenty-seventh birthday, and we finally decided that we wanted that family that we dreamed about, which meant that Rosalie and Emmett were more than willing to move closer for us. After a few tries, it was a success. Since I couldn't seem to provide what we needed, Jacob was to become the biological father. Jacob worried that it would bother me, but after explaining to him that it wasn't his fault, that it was probably best this way, he finally understood.

To me, it was more important that Jacob's line continues than mine seeing how the next alpha needed to be born eventually when and if the vampires returned.

Nine months later, Rose birthed us a healthy baby boy, one that I had the privilege of delivering. And after the word spread of the next born son of the alpha arriving, names had been thrown at us left and right. It wasn't decided until we had the opportunity to finally bring Tyler Black home.

"Does it bother you?" Jacob asked me, sitting next to me on the porch.

"No, it would have when we were younger." I chuckled as I leaned into him, holding on to his hand. "What about you? How does it make you feel?"

"Proud." He grinned, "I just didn't think I'd be alive to see him phase."

"I kind of had the feeling that he'd be the next leader." I smiled as I watched the children play with the crowd.

"Ty and Adrienne did a great job with him." Jacob smiled as he watched our son sitting with his wife. "I have faith that Alex will make a great leader."

I guess this what it means when you have come full circle. To watch your children grow, and then your grandchildren. To see them take on the world with perseverance and hope that you've done right by them to become the best that they could be. Though we weren't hoping for it, we were prepared this time in case any of the children to possibly phase. I guess we should've known that it would skip a generation.

The moment that Carlisle and the others had returned –for plausible reasons of course- we knew that something had come up. According to Alice, the vampire community was beginning to build once again after the Romanian coven decided that it was their turn to finally rule.

Which meant that our eldest grandson Alex was going to phase any day now, and I would be sure that a few other's would follow. Was I okay with it? Not exactly, but I have faith that Alex will be a great alpha; after all, he had his grandfather to teach him.

It's moments like this really though. As I look upon the yard at our annual celebration, I couldn't help but be proud of how far we come. Two sons, both blessing us with six grandchildren that Rosalie had been so kindly given us.

Then there's the pack. Sam and Emily have been blessed with two sons and a daughter along with eight grandchildren to count. Rachel and Paul's twin boys both turned out to be what we hadn't expected. Paul has still been trying to get around the idea that they both are gay. Jared and Kim moved for a few years and returned with their two daughters, one of them to be expecting anytime soon. Embry and Quil are a bit different. Embry became a father to little girl, unfortunately he rarely gets to see her because the mother moved away and barely keeps in touch with him. Quil and Claire are still trying to work things out. Ever since she discovered the imprint, she found it hard to adjust. Seth and Bella have stayed close all these years, surprisingly having the biggest family of five kids and now two grandchildren.

Today is actually the first time we've been together. Thanks to Carlisle, Embry's reunion with his daughter has been bittersweet. I know that eventually the thirteen year-old will eventually get to know her dad, after all, it seems she's a bit fond of Seth's youngest boy, which I'm not sure how Embry will react to it.

Other than that really, we're all back together. A new chapter is about to unfold, and our future generation will soon be facing a challenge that we once had, I'm just hoping that the knowledge giving to them is put to a good use.

"And here you told me not to fall in love with you." Jacob teased, wrapping his arm around my waist as I stood in awe.

"Well," I turned to him. "I knew you couldn't resist."

"Who could?" He kissed my cheek.

"I'm glad you did though." I admitted, he cocked a brow, "otherwise I could never know what it really was."

"I thought so too." He held onto me again, "we just needed to find someone to define it."

"Yeah." I smiled at the thought.

It's a good thing I didn't walk away this time.

A/N: I rewrote this chapter more than once, and after every attempt, it seemed to get worse. So I had to clear my head and just sit down and write. Thankfully I wrote something that I could be satisfied with. If I kept debating, I probably would have never updated.

I hope the conclusion was just as satisfying as it was for me, and I hope you do take the time to review. I worked hard on this and I know it's not the best, but I know it's worth it.

Before I go, thank you all who reviewed, especially the ones' who have been reviewing since I started. Shoutouts for the last chapter lytebrytehybrid88, Eat my Words 4 me, luvinlapush, yukino76, JesAFan, , Romantific and guest.

Much Love,

TurnItUp03