Sad, Beautiful, Tragic

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thank you so much for the lovely reviews on this story. It was a pleasure to write! Nikki :)

Epilogue-Hope

Four years later:

Bella lifted up her shopping and took hold of her three year old daughter's hand. Hope smiled up at her. "We go now."

Bella nodded. "Yeah, we're all done. Thanks for being a good little girl for mommy today."

Hope's smile widened at the praise. She skipped along by Bella's side, still clutching onto her hand. They left the shop in Fork's and began to make their way back to the Swan house. Bella and her daughter had been visiting with Grandpa Charlie. Unfortunately he had been called into work in the midst of their visit and had to reluctantly leave to sort out some minor problem. He had promised he wouldn't be long. Bella had offered to go and stock up on supplies while he was gone so she could make them all a meal. She had called Jacob and asked if he would come over after work and bring Billy with him. They could make a night of it. It had been a while since they had all been together. Jacob had eagerly agreed to this plan.

Bella glanced at her watch as they strolled slowly back toward her childhood home. It was nearly four, Jake would be finished work by five. So she had about an hour or so to whip up a meal. "Daddy and Grandpa Billy will be over soon." She said to Hope.

Hope clapped her hands together. "Will Dadda have pressie?" She asked eagerly.

Bella smiled indulgently at her daughter. It had become tradition that every night that Jacob came home from work he would bring along a small gift for their daughter. It was usually only something small, maybe a flower, or once a snow globe he had come across when he was out on a call. Jacob worked for the local garage run by Jim Dowling. Jim was a hard taskmaster, but as they needed the money, Jake had taken what he could get. Bella herself worked part time at her old job at Newton's. That pay wasn't great but it was close to La Push. Either Billy or Sue Clearwater would babysit Hope while she worked.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that Bella didn't at first hear Hope babbling by her side. Her daughter tugged impatiently on her hand. "Mommy, who is man?"

"Man, what man?" Bella glanced down at her daughter.

Hope pointed over toward the house. Bella followed the direction she was indicating and her heart froze in her chest and nausea welled up in her throat as her past came back to haunt her with a vengeance. Sitting as if he didn't have a care in the world on the front steps of the Swan house was Edward Cullen. Bella stopped and quickly dropped the bag of shopping. She picked up Hope and clutched her against her chest. Then as quietly as she could she began to backtrack, hoping that Edward hadn't detected her.

Unfortunately her swift movement had startled Hope. She wriggled in her arms restlessly. "Mommy. I wanna get down."

Edward heard Hope's voice. He raised his head and looked over in their direction. His amber eyes stared straight into Bella's. She held Hope tighter against her as she watched Edward rise to his feet gracefully and begin to make his way over to them. All the way his eyes never left Bella's for a second. He was in front of her before she could really react.

"Bella." Edward hadn't changed. His smooth velvety voice was the same, so was the tortured look on his white face. Dark circles underscored his eyes. Bella could tell from past experience that he needed to go hunting. Her eyes traveled over him. He still wore the same discreet designer clothes and his hair was slightly shorter, but still gelled in the latest style. He looked every inch the seventeen year old boy he was when he died.

"Why are you here?" She whispered. She hated the fact her voice was quavering.

Edward hesitated for a second as he ran a hand through his hair agitatedly. "I couldn't do it any longer, Bella."

"Do what?" Bella stepped back from him a little as she heard him inhale deeply.

"Stay away from you any longer. I tried so hard...but I couldn't cope any more. I've missed you so much." Edward gave her a tentative smile.

"Mommy, I don' like man." Hope announced suddenly as she buried her head in Bella's shoulder. "Make man go 'way."

Bella rubbed soothing circles on her daughter's back as she cuddled her close. Edward had frozen still like a statue when he heard the little girl call Bella Mommy. He seemed to finally notice Hope. His amber eyes studied her intently before returning to stare at Bella. "You have a child?" He said in disbelief.

"Yes, what did you expect? Did you think I would be sitting at home pining for your sorry ass for the last four or whatever years it's been since you left." Bella snapped. Her anger was finally kicking in. How dare he intrude on her idyllic life? He was a part of her past that she would rather forget. He brought nothing but trouble with him. She wanted him gone.

Edward closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment to calm himself. "I don't know what I was thinking...I forget that you are human and time passes quicker for you..I'm sorry."

Bella took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had to remain calm, she didn't want to alarm Hope more than she already was. "I really have nothing to say to you, Edward. Nothing. I suggest you leave and this time never return." She stated firmly.

"But I love you, Bella. I don't think it's possible for me to go. I want to protect you and...and your daughter." Edward opened his eyes again, a new resolve shining in them. "This could be a chance for us to have what we never thought we could...a family."

"You're delusional." Bella hissed. "As if I would ever want you near my daughter. Leave now or I'll call my husband and he won't hesitate to burn your ass."

Edward was appalled by Bella's threat. He actually stepped back a little. "No human male could beat me." He muttered. "Who have you been with, Bella?"

A small smile crossed Bella's lips as she thought about Jacob. "You remember Billy Black's son, right?" She sneered.

Edward's eyes darkened. "I see." He replied, understanding clearly what she meant.

"Leave now and there won't be any trouble. Stay and he and his brothers will do what they must." Bella said baldly. "The decision is yours."

"I can see that he has infected your mind and body." Edward snarled.

"No, he opened my eyes and my heart. I love him and only him. You...you were just a mistake. One that I regret deeply." Bella did not mince her words.

Edward's whole posture changed. He seemed to curl in on himself. Bella could tell her words had hurt him but she didn't care. She just wanted him to go. They locked eyes for a moment before Edward dropped his to the ground. "I see I have been under a misapprehension."

"Clearly. Goodbye Edward...and never come back." Bella said no more. She bent down and retrieved the bag of shopping, while still holding tightly to Hope. Without once looking in his direction again she headed for the house and went inside. She leaned against the door and clutched Hope tightly. The sound of tires squealing loudly outside indicated that Edward had left. She exhaled in relief.

"Has man gone, mommy?" Hope whispered.

"He's gone, sweetie. He's gone." Bella reassured her.

Jacob nearly had the door off of the hinges when he arrived from work. Cullen's foul stench had hit him as soon as he pulled into the driveway. He left his father in the truck as he headed straight in the house. To his surprise he found his wife calmly laying the table. Hope was sitting in one of the chairs, drawing. As soon as she saw Jacob she leapt up from her chair and ran over to him.

"Dadda." She squealed in delight.

"Hey you." Jacob picked her up and cuddled her close. "How's my little girl?"

Hope clapped her hands together. "Pressie now?" She flashed her big brown eyes, so like her mother's, at him.

Jacob laughed at her enthusiasm. He was feeling calm now he could see no danger in sight. He pulled out a little package from his pocket. "Here you go."

Hope giggled as she took it from him and eagerly tore off the paper. Inside was a small plastic bangle in her favorite color; purple. "Fanks, dadda." She put her small arms around his neck and hugged him tight.

"You're welcome." Jacob kissed her on the head while he looked across meaningfully at Bella. "Any visitors today?"

Before Bella could respond, Hope spoke up. "Man come. I don' like im."

"You didn't?" Jacob said cautiously.

Hope shook her head, her full lips in a pout. "Mommy tell 'im to go and if he didn't go you burn 'is...'is ass?" She looked over at Bella for confirmation.

A small smile flickered across Jacob's face as he looked across at Bella. "Is that right?" He asked.

Bella returned his smile wryly. "Yeah. Don't worry he isn't ever coming back."

"You sure?" Jacob checked

"Oh I'm sure." Bella said confidently. "Now why don't you go and get Billy, he must be wondering what the hell is going on. Dinner will be ready in half an hour. Dad said he would be home from work by then."

Jacob skirted around the table and put his arm across Bella's shoulder and pulled her in for a hug, along with Hope. "I love you." He murmured.

"Love you more." Bella whispered back to him. "I always have."

Jacob grinned at her as he pressed a kiss on the top of her head.

FIN....