Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Twilight franchise.

Notes: This is it - the last entry in Changes! This epilogue was actually the very first thing I wrote for this story. Granted, I've tweaked it and revised it since then, but this epilogue is where the entire idea for 'Changes' began.

Thanks to all of you who have read, followed, favorited and reviewed. It's been such a blast to write this story, and a total joy to receive and read all the great reviews. You guys have made my day almost every day since I started posting this story. I currently do NOT have another Twilight fiction in progress, but should I get another plot bunny for the characters, I'll be back. In the meantime, best wishes to you all!

Epilogue: Jennifer

Once, when I was a little girl crying over my daddy leaving for a trip without me, my grandma took my hand and led me up to her attic. Once up there, she pulled out an old shoebox. Inside, there were pictures of a pretty girl with long brown hair and nice eyes. Her daughter, Isabella, who died in a fire a long time ago. With each picture she showed me, she told about when it was taken.

It was the only time Grandma Renee ever spoke of my aunt in front of me.

Late that night, when everyone else was sleep, I snuck back upstairs and looked through the pictures again. Over and over I stared at my Aunt Bella, trying to memorize her face and comprehend the idea of her not being around. I never really knew why, but something convinced me that Bella would have been the best aunt ever.

From that night on, she became a sort of imaginary friend to me. Every now and then, I'd find myself wondering what my aunt Bella would have said, or thought, or done in various situations I found myself in. When I was feeling lonely, I'd imagine my aunt coming over and playing barbies with me or helping me with my homework.

Years passed and I thought of her less and less. That is, until days before my college graduation I got a phone call from my daddy telling me that grandma Renee had died. After the funeral service, I went up to attic and dug out the box of pictures. I was angry and sad and instead of holding on to the pictures like I had originally intended, I burned them all in a trash can outside. Then I cried and cried and cried, trying to remember her face and place it next to a smiling, younger version of my grandma.

Six months later, I married the most wonderful woman in the world. My grandmother wasn't there to help me get ready, and my mother's inability to stop making passive aggressive comments about my lifestyle decisions led me to politely tell her to get the hell out of my dressing room. I did my own hair and makeup, trying to hide the redness in my eyes and the crease in my brow. Thoughts of my Aunt Bella came to me again, as I pinned up my curls and stared into the mirror.

Would she smile and help me fix up my hair? Would she make sure my makeup was perfect and assure me that my mother loves myself and Emily, even if she is acting like an asshole? It was easy to imagine my mythical aunt as a serene, fairy-godmother like figure, since I had never met her and had no idea what she was truly like.

Warmed by the idea of a woman I'd never know, I finished getting ready and walked outside. And as I walked into the warm glow of the torchlights towards the beautiful woman I was about to marry, all the pain from earlier fell away. The ceremony went off without a hitch, and a part of my heart lifted when I saw the proud smile my father sent me.

Then, as my eyes slid from my fathers and into the darkness behind him, I saw her. The spectre of my aunt - even more beautiful than the pictures ever showed, and smiling within the embrace of a tall young man. It seemed crazy, but never really doubted what I saw - it meant too much to me at that moment to question it. Because it seemed like a sign that even through death, my family will always be there for me. My family will watch over me as guardian angels.

Tears welled in my eyes as I turned back to look at Emily, surging forward and kissing her before even being prompted, causing the audience and pastor to all start laughing.

…..

Twenty four years after my wedding, it was my daughter Renee's turn to walk down the aisle.

I cried as I saw her in her dress, leaning into my Emily's arms as we comforted each other in the face of our dear baby growing up.

I smiled, happier than I'd ever felt, when I saw her meet young Benjamin in front of the church. And then I smiled even broader when the vows were exchanged and the wedding came to an end.

And that night, as the newlyweds and other young couples danced under the fairy lights, I stood in the midst of the wedding guests and looked around the outskirts of the party for my guardian angels.

And sure enough, there she was. I barely had glimpsed the young face of my Aunt Bella before the same young man had wrapped his arms around her and was spinning her into a dance of their own. I strained my ears when I heard a bright laugh - her laugh. "Jasper! Stop!" My aunt cried out with a smile, and the voice was even more joyful than I ever imagined.

More content than I could imagine to see the strange vision of my long-dead aunt happy, loved, and still watching over the family, I turned away from the couple and moved to grab Emily. I dragged her onto the dance floor where we spent the rest of the party.

…..

Today is my eldest grandson's wedding. Named after his father, Ben Jr. has been a riot of nerves and sweaty palms all day. Though, looking at him now as he stands next to the his bride-to-be, he looks more a man than I've ever seen the little punk.

As the pastor speaks - unheard by me, as I forgot to put in my hearing aid before I left for the ceremony - I look across the people gathered, searching once more for my guardian angel. I can't say why I still cling to the imagined figure I've always been so sure I've seen. But now I'm old, and allowed to cling to my silly beliefs without feeling embarrassed.

Wiping at my rheumy eyes, I smile and wish my Emily was here with me still. She had never seen Bella, but she had never doubted me my angels.

And sure enough, there they are, still as eternally young s the first time I saw them: my aunt Bella and her man Jasper. They're curled together on a bench some ways away from the gazebo my grandson stands beneath. Bella's eyes are glued to the ceremony, while Jasper has his eyes closed and head resting on her shoulder.

They are the picture of a couple madly in love, the perfect apparition for a wedding. It feels like a blessing from all the family that has come before. I turn my attention back to my grandson just in time to see him lean in to kiss the bride. I smile at the sight and can just barely make out the faint sound of cheering around me.

The couple leads the way into the reception hall. I stand to follow, my daughter Renee holding me steady. Just before I begin to walk away, I turn to give my angels one last look. If the doctor's are right, this is the last time I will see them in this life.

"Goodbye, Aunt Bella," I whisper before allowing Renee to usher me towards the bright light of the reception hall. I spend the rest of the evening basking in the company of my beloved family, knowing that all of them - alive and passed - will always be around to watch over things.

...