Epilogue

"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."―Elbert Hubbard

For the first time in almost one hundred years, the McRaes dispersed. Two weeks following the battle, Avarice and Eric were the only ones remaining in Forks.

With the help of Carmen and Eleazar, Melena and Argos left the country and returned to her homeland of Spain. After everything the two of them had been through, namely Argos's "death," no one contested their decision to be alone for awhile. However, it was painful for the McRaes to say goodbye to two of their family members, who had fought beside them for so long, and it was equally hard on Argos and Melena. It took a solid week for the two mates to successfully leave.

Dante left right after the battle. No word. No note. He just vanished into the night. Whereas Avarice and Erickson had struggled with Melena and Argos's decision, there was a haunting acceptance in regards to Dante's disappearance. They let him go. Thinking back to my time spent around him, I felt bad that I was too crazed with bloodlust to mourn his absence. He had always been kind to me.

My life as a newborn was a terrifying time. Regardless of any preparation the Cullens had given me, I was uncontrollable. Within the first twenty-four hours, I had come close to killing three people, including my father. So, on Carlisle's request, I moved in with the Denalis under the guise of going to the University of Alaska. Their home in the Alaskan wilderness, along with the distance from humanity, made my transition easier. I could actually breathe. I hadn't been alone either.

A grief-stricken Avarice accompanied me to Alaska. Despite what I had shared with him about my time in the In-Between, he still missed his brother and Ary. For the first week, he sat inside and refused to speak to anyone. However, after day nine of his self-induced seclusion, Tanya had forced him outside to feed. I'm not exactly sure what happened in the forest, but when the two of them returned three days later, he was smiling again. The following year, we celebrated their wedding. It was a small gathering, which angered Alice, with only a few close friends. Even some of the wolves from La Push came and paid their respect to the new couple.

Speaking of the wolves, Leah and Jacob tied the knot, along with Sam and Emily, in a beautiful, dual ceremony on the beach in La Push. Leah and Emily had been visions, dressed in a mixture of ceremonial and contemporary wedding attire. The pictures I saw could never do them justice. Although I had wanted to attend, and even though the wolves had been willing to alter the treaty for the day, I had refused. At that point, I was just coming to terms with my blood lust, and I wasn't willing to test my control on Jacob's people. Although he had been slightly upset, Jacob had understood my hesitation. He forgave me eventually, especially when he received my wedding gift to him.

I laughed and shook my head, thinking of Jacob's jumbled voicemail, when he had opened the tiny envelope and found two tickets for a transatlantic cruise, along with the keys to a new car. After everything Jacob had done for me—keeping me afloat when Edward left, and standing by us when the Pure Ones had come—it was the least I could do.

I gazed out the windows of Alice's bedroom at the endless sea of green. I was back in Forks for one day only. Tomorrow, I would be leaving for my honeymoon, and when we returned, we would be living somewhere else. Once upon a time, I had detested the idea of spending forever in this tiny town, but no longer. In fact, after today, it would be almost one hundred years before I could see this place again. That fact depressed me, but not as much as I thought it would. Within the hour, I would be walking down the aisle, which was both terrifying and exhilarating me.

Although I was a vampire, a creature of grace and beauty, I still feared falling over and humiliating myself. With that in mind, I had practiced walking in the ostentatiously tall heels Alice had insisted I wear under my dress.

"Knock knock," Alice called in her sing-song, clearly up to something tone, but she froze when she saw me at the window. Her grin melted to a horrified frown. "What do you think you're doing, Bella?"

"What?" I threw my hands up defensively. I had done everything she had asked me to do. Two nights before, I had fed more than usual, so I would be able to tolerate the vast amount of humans she had invited. In addition, I hadn't touched my face since Rosalie and Alice had spent an hour applying my makeup. So there was no way I had smudged anything. What was her issue?

"You're standing in front of the window!" She quickly pulled me away and shut the curtains. "Someone could see you! It's bad luck!"

"Bad luck? Are you afraid we're going to get a divorce?" I looked at her playfully, while she swept through the room. "I've been told that's not likely."

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "No one can see you! It's just… the rules!"

"I think you're overreacting," I commented and laughed when Alice stuck her tongue out at me. Before she or I could comment, there was a knock at the door. "Come in."

Alice unlocked the door and ushered Renee, Esme, and Melena in the room. The three of them flitted around, embracing me and wishing me well. However, as I watched them, there was a sinking feeling in my stomach. I'm not sure why the sight of my mother had brought it on, but it was there nonetheless.

"Are you all right?" Alice asked, after she had shooed our mothers and Melena out the door. "What is it, Bella?"

"Is… he… here?" I couldn't look at her. What kind of bride was I? Asking about a man who wasn't my fiancée on my wedding day? I couldn't help it though. I had worried about him since I had chosen my fiancée over him. My heart had broken, when he had disappeared the next day, and I had questioned whether I had made the right choice or not. It had taken a phone call from Sam Uley for me to realize the actions of others were out of my hands.

Alice sighed and shook her head. "Did you expect him to be, Bella?"

I took a seat. "I guess not. I'm just worried about him. Can you see him?"

She frowned, and I noticed her eyes glossing over. She was looking for him. "He's exactly where I last saw him. He won't be here today. It's probably too hard for him."

I nodded in understanding and said nothing more.

Rosalie appeared about twenty minutes later, carrying a large white dress bag. Alice had kept the dress from me, even going so far as to blindfold me during the alterations. I trusted her, but remembering all the crazy ensembles she had put me in immediately following my change, I was somewhat hesitant. When I had awoken from the burning, I had found myself in a floor length, ice blue gown, which made me look like I was going to some fancy soiree. I laughed as I thought of how angry she had been, when I had returned from my first hunt, dress torn and drenched with blood.

Alice turned me away from the mirror, while she and Rose zipped me up and put the veil in my hair. I started to grow anxious, as they fawned over my hair, dress, makeup, and shoes. All I wanted was a little reassurance that I didn't look completely ridiculous.

Finally, after what felt like forever, but was probably only five minutes, Alice told me to turn around.

I didn't recognize the stunning creature in the mirror. She had flawless porcelain skin, made luminescent with the perfect amount of makeup, bright, golden eyes, and inhuman beauty. However, the most beautiful part was the dress. It was floor-length, with long sleeves, and an intricate lace design that ran up the length of my torso. It was modest, and yet, sensual. It was perfect.

I couldn't stop staring at myself; I was just so… radiant.

"Well?" Alice was looking at me expectantly. "Do you like it?"

"No." I shook my head, and when I couldn't stand her horrified expression any longer, I laughed. "I love it, Alice. It's absolutely perfect."

"Naturally," Alice responded, trying to look as smug as possible. We both stared at the dress in the mirror, commenting on everything about it. The length, the cut, the hem, the subtle sparkle on the arms… everything. While I smoothed out a tiny wrinkle, Alice suddenly went into panic mode. "Everyone's here! They're almost ready to start! Come on! That's enough preening! Run!"

She grabbed my hand, and we rushed out the bedroom door, taking care not to knock the portraits off the wall. Sure enough, I could hear the whispering and murmuring from downstairs. Everyone was waiting on us, waiting on me. Oh no, here come the nerves again. Alice and I rounded a corner, but quickly stopped, when we saw who was waiting for us at the bottom of the staircase.

Charlie. He was dressed in a stylish tuxedo, or as he affectionately termed it, 'a monkey suit'. His hair was slicked back, he had applied cologne, and his heart was beating quicker than normal. I smiled down at my father, recalling all the time I had spent away from him while I had been up in Alaska. Thankfully, he had bought my 'I'm going to school in Alaska' excuse, and he didn't put up much of a fuss. I had made sure to call him once a week—just to let him know I was okay.

He turned, as Alice and I made our way down the stairs, just the hint of a smile playing on his lips. My father was never one to let his emotions show. He and I were so similar in that respect.

"You look good, Bells," he said gruffly, a light tint of pink tracing across his cheeks. After Alice disappeared out the backdoor, bouquet in hand, and the bridal procession began, I felt him tense beside me. "You know, if you're having second thoughts, there's always a place for you with me. It'll always be your home, Bella. I'm pretty sure we could make it to the highway before they notice you're gone."

I laughed and shook my head. If I decided to run, I would have a very angry Alice to deal with. Scary thought. "Thanks, Dad, but I've never been surer about something in my entire life. I'm ready."

He patted my hand and nodded, moments before we were given our cue.

One step at a time, I told myself as we began to the move with the slow tempo of the march. For a brief second I was distracted by the plethora of flowers that seemed to be floating in the air. Alice had definitely spared no expense in regards to the decorations. There were layers upon layers of peonies and pink roses hanging from the ceiling, sitting in bowls, and covering the floor. To anyone not privy to my family's secret, it would appear as if we had a love of flowers. In reality, the blossoms had a dual purpose. They created beautiful ambiance, and they also minutely shrouded the aroma of the humans.

Alice always thought of everything.

Rosalie was sitting at the piano, playing an elegant version of Canon in D. Her golden hair swept across her back, as she turned over her shoulder and smiled at me. I nodded in approval, and she resumed her previous position. She and Alice were wearing matching silver, floor length gowns, which clung to their bodies appreciatively.

I finally pulled my attention from the, in my opinion, overly decorated space, and the Cullen girls, and I searched across the rows of guests until I found him. He was standing before an arch overflowing with even more flowers, a soft smile on his face. I was barely conscious of the Minister, Mr. Weber, Angela's father. All I really saw was him. His eyes were burning; his perfect face was almost severe with the depth of his emotion.

And then, as his gaze met mine, I broke into a wide, confident smile—and Eric smiled back at me.

Author's Note: Sooner or later I'll write a story where Bella ends up with Edward. I'm really not an E/B hater. My stories just end up with a different ending. /shrug

Thanks for all the support and reviews. :O)