Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are owned by the Marvelous Ms. Meyers - no copyright infringement is intended. Please don't send your lawyers after me!

Author's note: Happy Friday, and welcome to the final installment of Listen With Your Heart. Longer author's note below.

*blushes* Up to this point, the "M" rating was for the swears. So if you don't like lemons, please skip to the bottom.

Epilogue 2

Five Years Later

It had been a long evening in a series of long evenings. Weeks of rehearsals had finally culminated in two amazing nights of student performances, and our second annual junior high/high school performance showcase was now in the books.

The showcase was a labor of love, something the high school music and drama teachers and I had developed over the last several years. It featured instrumental and vocal solos and groups, dance, and dramatic recitations. The art students worked on scenery and costumes, the woodshop students on set design, and any student who wanted to perform was given a spot on the program.

This year we'd had it all - from Shakespeare to rap, poetry reading, tap dancing and ballet, even a rock band featuring several seniors from the high school. My favorite performance by far had felt like a throwback to my college jury - a group of students performed "Ten Duel Commandments" from Hamilton, both singing and signing. Leah Uley, now a junior, had performed the part of Hamilton and had received a standing ovation.

As proud as I was of what we had accomplished, now that it was done, I was desperately looking forward to having my life back.

I packed away the last of my sheet music and props, then turned to watch Edward stacking chairs onto the rolling carts to take back to the choir room. With a production of this magnitude, the showcase wouldn't have been possible without our volunteers, and Edward was always the first one to arrive and the last to leave. Angela and Ben had cleared out about 20 minutes ago, so Edward and I were the only ones left.

As though he could sense my gaze, he looked up and smiled at me, that crooked smile that still made my heart flutter. He finished stacking the final chair, then crossed the stage to where I stood. Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Cullen?

Yes please, Mr. Cullen, I replied, biting my lower lip and looking up at him through my lowered lashes, knowing exactly what that would do to him.

The heated look in Edward's eyes made me shiver in anticipation. He could say more with a glance than most people could with an entire speech. And those eyes were letting me know exactly what I had in store for me when we got home.

Are you trying to start something, Mrs. Cullen?

Yes please, Mr. Cullen, I teased, and he groaned as he reached for me, claiming my lips in a passionate kiss.

I giggled when Edward slid his hands down to grab my ass, pulling me tight against his burgeoning erection. Five years into our relationship, and three into our marriage, we were just as insatiable as we had been in the beginning. So much so that there had been a no-kissing-on-set rule; not because of the horny high schoolers, but because Mr. and Mrs. Cullen just couldn't keep their hands off one another.

Let's go, he signed impatiently, and I grabbed my bag, shutting off the lights as we stumbled towards the back door, stopping several times to kiss and grope one another in the dark along the way.

He broke the speed limit driving us home, one hand on the wheel and the other drawing slow patterns on my knee, his fingertips sliding higher up my bare thigh beneath my skirt the closer we got to home.

We practically ran for the front door. No sooner had I kicked off my shoes and closed the door behind me, Edward had me pressed up against it, his lips on my neck and his hands undoing the buttons of the silk blouse that covered my breasts. I groaned as he teased my nipples to stiff peaks, his lips venturing down to nip at them through the lace of my bra.

The last five years had given us ample opportunity to perfect the beauty of our lovemaking. Edward steered me toward the living room, both of us too anxious to take the time to climb the stairs to our bedroom. He removed my blouse as I tugged on the bottom of his shirt, untucking it from his khakis and gently scraping my nails along his abdomen. We had to break the kiss as he eagerly jerked his shirt over his head and I unhooked my bra, both of us gasping when we finally came skin to skin.

His mouth found mine again as I fumbled with his belt and the button of his khakis. He tugged at my skirt, sending the pretty floral print pooling around my ankles. His long fingers slid my panties down and immediately found the wetness between my legs as I palmed his arousal through his boxer briefs, squeezing gently.

He eagerly shoved his pants and boxers down, stepping clear of the fabric in a single move. I laughed as I nearly tripped over my own panties in my enthusiasm, wondering how he could be so graceful and I could be so clumsy.

Edward sat on the couch, pulling me down so that I straddled his lap, his erection thick and ready between us. His mouth was on my breasts, nipping and sucking, and I laced my fingers into his hair, holding him tighter to me as I writhed against him.

His fingers found my center once again, my wetness coating his fingers as he pumped two of them inside me. At the same time, his thumb circled my clit, making me crazy with need, and I shamelessly undulated my hips. I could already feel my climax starting to build. He knew exactly what I needed, his fingers and tongue coaxing me until I cried out, my pussy throbbing with my release.

Tremors still shook through my body as I raised up and then slowly impaled myself on his cock. Edward grunted his approval, his fingers biting pleasurably into the skin of my hip and thigh as we settled into the slow rhythm that would carry us over the edge.

Edward moaned and muttered words and nonsense noises against my neck as I rode him. I could feel the tightening begin again low in my abdomen, and I knew that my release was imminent, just as I knew that my orgasm would trigger his. I moved faster, my fingernails digging into his shoulders and my mouth frantically seeking his. Our tongues tangled wildly, teeth nipping and clashing as I reached the peak first. A low groan sounded from my throat as my orgasm overtook me, and I shuddered in his arms with the force of it.

"Christ, Bella!" he shouted, pistoning his hips sharply as I felt him release within me. We stayed that way for immeasurable moments before I all but collapsed against him, our bodies covered with a thin sheen of sweat.

As our breathing returned to normal, I could feel his fingers move against the skin of my back as he signed his love for me. He had done that the very first time we made love, and every single time since. It always gave me chills, it was such an intimate gesture between us. He kissed me softly, reverently, his lips warm against my skin, and I sighed with pleasure. These were the moments I lived for.

With one last, lingering kiss, I disentangled myself from his embrace and stood on wobbly legs. I grimaced as I felt the evidence of his release dribble down my thigh.

Edward laughed at my expression, reaching out with one hand to steady me. Shower time, he signed.

He led me up the stairs to our ensuite bathroom. He continued to kiss and caress me as we shivered and waited for the water to warm, his touch a dormant flame across my skin.

As we stepped beneath the spray from the dual shower heads, he reached for my shower gel, lathering up a pouf and gently stroking it over my tired limbs, soothing and comforting.

I giggled when he paid extra attention to my breasts, teasing my nipples. I laughed and squirmed when he swiped the pouf across the growing bump between my hips, where the tight skin was ultrasensitive to his touch.

Is the baby ticklish? He teased, his slippery fingers caressing the spot where our son or daughter grew.

I don't know, but mama sure is is, I responded, laying my hand over his as he cradled my bump. His smile widened as the baby nudged against our hands.

Then I yawned hugely. And Edward laughed. Mama is tired! Let's get you two to bed.

It's your fault. You wore me out!

Edward smothered a yawn of his own, nodding in agreement. We wore each other out. But please, feel free to wear me out any time. I love pregnancy hormones.

A short while later we were cuddled beneath the blankets. I watched as Edward fell asleep, his hand sprawled in the sign for "I love you" across my abdomen and the crooked grin I loved on his lips.

I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep, content that reality was even better than my dreams.

Four months later

It's a girl!

Edward and Isabella Cullen proudly announce the arrival of

Harper Elizabeth Cullen

on June 20

7 pounds, 6 ounces, 19-1/2 inches long

THE END

And there you have it - Listen With Your Heart.

I want to thank my husband, who has been tremendously understanding and supportive of his crazy wife writing the story told by the voices in her head. I am the luckiest woman alive to have such a supportive and inspirational partner - I love you, sweetheart!

All my love to iadorepugs and athomejo, who stuck by my side through the good and the bad, offering support, advice, feedback, and the occasional virtual slap when I needed to be reined in.

Special thanks to SunflowerFran, Rita01tx and RobAttack, tehlemonadestand, and all the others who shared my story with their friends and brought so many new readers on board - it is so humbling to have readers and writers that I have read and adored over the years reading my little fic. I appreciate each and every favorite, follow, PM, and review.

No sequel is planned, but I may play around with some outtakes in the future - because of the drabblish manner in which they told me their story, there are some scenes that could be revisited in greater detail, or even in Edward's POV. Besides, these two have brought me so much happiness that I just don't want to let them go. If you'd be interested in reading any of those outtakes, please put me on author alert.

Thank you to you all, from the bottom of my heart. And if I could ask, just one last time - please drop me a note and let me know what you think.

Love, A.L.