A/N: So this is the last peek into this story, guys. Hope you enjoy it!

Epilogue#2

One Year Later, Another Fall Evening

"I can get off of work early if you want me to," she said into the phone, hinting that she'd rather stay home with him than at work.

Instead of the enthusiastic agreement she had expected, she heard him say quickly, "No, no, you take as long as you need. I'm sure Jake doesn't want to be left short-handed."

For a moment she felt like screaming at him that he's more concerned about Jake being short-handed than her wanting to be with him. But then she pushed that feeling away and offered him a mild "Yeah, I guess I'll see you later then" before hanging up.

What was wrong with him?

"Why the long face, kiddo?" Jake's voice broke through her worried thoughts as the older man came to stand next to her.

She shrugged. "I'm fine, Jake."

"O-kay," Jake responded, letting her know he didn't really think she was fine. "What are you doing here today of all days anyway? It's not everyday you become a graduate. You should be home with Edward … celebrating."

Despite her attempt at pushing away the hurt caused by the phone call, Bella found herself saying, "I'm glad at least someone thinks I should be home." Apparently the bitterness in her tone didn't escape Jake.

Frowning, he asked, "Did that dumbass of yours do something stupid again? I swear I'll tear him a new one if he did anything to hurt you, Bells."

A small smile escaped Bella even as she felt her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Thanks for the offer, Jake, but he didn't do anything. That's the thing. He didn't do anything." It felt like a dam had burst inside her and the words started pouring out of her heart. "Lately, he's been so … withdrawn. I just don't know what to make of it. Sometimes, I feel like he's lost in a world of his own. I even caught him slamming his laptop shut the moment I walked into a room as if he was trying to hide something from me."

The memory made her heart hurt because trust was something they had built their relationship on and she couldn't imagine him breaking her trust. Before she could make herself stop, the tears were spilling over.

As she quickly turned her face away from Jake to hide her tears, she felt his hand grasp her shoulder. "Calm down, Bells," he said in a soft voice. "Why don't I drive you to your home and hand his ass to him?"

Dashing away her tears, Bella shook her head. "You don't have to do that. Maybe I'm just overreacting, and if I'm not, then I can fight my own battles."

"I know," Jake answered with a hint of pride in his twinkling eyes. "Still … let this old man be there for you?"

Knowing that she wasn't really feeling up to walking home by herself, she nodded, murmuring a soft thanks to him.

Reaching home, she felt her heart skip several beats. All the lights were off in the house, giving it an uninhabited look.

Stepping through the front door, she stopped dead in her tracks.

Am I in the right house? she thought to herself as her eyes took in the candles arranged all throughout the living room.

A slight movement from the corner drew her attention, and then she saw him.

Edward.

"Edward? What is all this?" she asked, feeling confused.

He started making his way toward her, and when he was standing in front of her, he smiled.

"Did you really think I wouldn't celebrate your big day? I thought we could have a candle light dinner tonight."

Dumbly, she just nodded.

He placed a hand on her cheek and met her eyes.

In the light of what seemed like a hundred candles, his usually green eyes looked more vibrant ... more intense.

He kissed her forehead before saying softly, "I asked Jake to keep you busy long enough for me to light the candles. I'm sorry I had to make you wait, baby."

It finally dawned on her that he had planned for her to be at work so he could set it all up. "Wait, you went through all these troubles just for me?"

"Bella, you have no idea how much I'll do ... just for you," he replies. "I love you, beautiful girl."

As she stood there, stunned speechless, he shrugged. "Besides, I didn't do much. I just ordered us a pizza and lit the candles ..."

She didn't even let him finish speaking as she threw her arms around him and pulled him in for a kiss. "You ordered pizza? I knew I fell in love with the right man," she said before kissing him once more.

He laughed in her kiss and then pulled her away from him a little. "I also have a graduation present for my girl," he said.

She shook her head. "You didn't have to. This is perfect," she said, gesturing to the hundreds of candles surrounding them.

He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket then. "It's as much for me as it is for you," he told her as he held the box in his palm.

Taking the box from his hand, she opened it to find a breathtakingly beautiful diamond ring with a golden sapphire in the middle. "Edward ..." She stopped mid-sentence and gasped as she looked up to find him down on one knee before her.

He reached out to take her hand and started talking. "Isabella Swan, I am a selfish man. Even though common sense dictated that I leave you alone, I've realized that I'm incapable of staying away from you." He added with a wink, "Besides, common sense is overrated anyway. You already hold my heart in yours. So as your graduation present, I want to give you my name. Will you please grant me the extraordinary honor to be able to call you Mrs. Edward Cullen and have you as mine?"

Blinking away the tears streaming down her cheeks, she got down on her knees so she could kiss the corner of his lips. "Forever," she whispered against his lips.

"Forever," he echoed before placing his ring on her finger and kissing her deeply.

As the lovers got lost in each other, the sapphire he had placed on her glinted in the candlelight … just like a little sprinkle of sunlight.

A/N: … AND THAT'S A WRAP, PEOPLE!

I hope you enjoyed reading their journey to happiness as much I enjoyed writing it. Thank you all for being there and showering me with your love all through this journey. A special thanks goes to my elder sister from another mister, IpsitaC77 apu for being my guardian angel on this journey. And to my dear friend Ashmerlin, you rock, beta goddess!

See you next time on Revised Curriculum, guys.

Love.

Ann