70

"Right this way, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen," said Craig Norton, the tall, portly man ushering us backstage. "We are so thrilled to have you with us."

"Thank you," I said, smiling as we stepped into the dressing room of Carnegie Hall. I couldn't help but think back to the last time I had been standing in this room. So much had changed. I turned back to Craig. "How long until show time?"

"Two hours," said Craig. "Your guests should be here any minute."

"Perfect," I said. Craig turned and left, pulling the door shut behind him. I turned and looked over at Edward. "Is Reneesme sleeping?"

"Finally," chuckled Edward, rocking the six month old baby girl in his arms slowly. "Teething sucks."

"I know," I snorted as I went over and sat down next to him. I leaned my head on his shoulder as I gazed down on our daughter. "She is so beautiful."

"That she is, love," whispered Edward. "She looks just like you."

"Except for her hair," I murmured.

It was hard to believe that ten years had past since Edward and I left Forks. So much had happened. Some great and some horrible. The following October, I received a message from Jim's wife, Martha, informing me that he had passed away. Even though I knew it was coming, it was so hard. Edward and I flew to Maine to attend his funeral. His wife was a mess as was his daughter. She just kept her arms folded around her protruding belly. Her son, James Michael, or Jim as they call him, was born a couple months later.

Tricia managed to stay cancer free for five more years before the tumor came back. The day she got the news, she called me sobbing uncontrollably.

"Bella, I need you," she sobbed.

"What's wrong, Tricia?" I asked, frantically. Edward and I were sitting in the Penthouse, going over our summer tour schedule.

"It's back," she whispered.

"I'm be on the next flight," I whispered.

I hung up the phone and quickly packed a bag. Edward and I were on the first flight out of New York to Chicago. A few hours later, we pulled up in front of her house. Denise pulled the door open before we could even knock.

"She's in her room," whispered Denise, tears pouring down her face.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered.

I turned and ran up the stairs, leaving Edward to hold Denise while she sobbed uncontrollably. I threw Tricia's door open and found her curded up in the middle of her bed. I went over and laid down next to her, wrapping me arms around her.

"I'm here," I whispered. "I've got you."

"I'm dying," she cried. "They can't operate. There is nothing they can do. I'm going to die at the age of eighteen."

"I'm so sorry, Tricia," I sobbed softly.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"I know," I whispered.

"Don't forget me when I'm gone, Bella," she whispered.

"I will never forget you," I whispered. "You're my superwoman."

I shook my head softly and blinked back my tears. Tricia died two months later. I spent everyday of those two months with her, helping her finish her novel. After she died, I sent her novel in to Ben who was working for a publisher in Seattle. He and I fought with the senior editors to get her book published but finally a year to the day after she died, her book 'A Matter of Time' was released. The book was a huge success, spending several months at the stop of the best sellers list. I know that Tricia was happy.

I owe so much to Ben for helping me make Tricia's dream come true. He and Angela were living in LA now. He was a senior editors at one of the biggest publishing houses in the country while Angela was a movie director. In fact, she turned 'A Matter of Time' into a movie that earned her an Oscar. They were going to come to the show but she is due in two weeks with their first child, a little girl they plan to name after Tricia.

Tricia's family is still in Chicago. Her death was excruciatingly hard for all of them. Denise and Martin struggled to be there for Ashton and Jack, while dealing with their own grief. Luckily, Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, and Esme were there with me and Edward to help them get over the hardest part. We still talk to them all but it's different with Tricia gone. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about her. She will always be my little sister.

Garrett and Kate were still living in San Francisco. Kate was a professor at Berkeley while Garrett was a lawyer. They have a four year old son, Lucas Scott, and are expecting twins, both girls, in two months. Due to Kate's pregnancy being high risk, they weren't able to come for the show either.

Lauren and Tyler dated for a few more months before she caught him screwing one of his professors. One of his male professors. Lauren was pretty torn up about it and ended up leaving San Francisco and transferring to the University of Florida. She met a very nice man named Malcolm a year ago. They just got engaged and are planning a Christmas wedding. Tyler ended up getting caught again with his professor, who happened to be married. He left Berkeley and was living in Iowa.

Mike and Jessica are still living in Forks with their four kids, Michael Jr., Samantha, Veronica, and Amanda. Yep, Mike had his hands full with all those girls. He and Jessica are still very happy. That's all that really matters.

"Isabella, your guests are here," said Craig, opening the door. I smiled as I jumped up to my feet as Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Alice, Carlisle, and Esme came in. I threw my arms around all of them and hugged them as Craig shut the door behind him.

"I am so glad you all could come for this," I squealed through my tears.

"Like we would miss this," scoffed Emmett, kissing my cheek. "Where's my niece?"

"Sleeping after a very long night so don't wake her up," I scolded.

Emmett just winked before he went over. I rolled my eyes and looked back at my family. Rose was rubbing her baby bump. She and Emmett were expecting a baby boy in four months. They had tried to get pregnant for three years before she finally managed to conceive. Rose was taking a few months off her job with Vogue so she could enjoy the rest of her pregnancy. She was an amazing photographer who had been recognized nationally as the best in the business.

I heard Emmett whispering to Reneesme about how evil boys are. I chuckled softly. Emmett was such a goof sometimes but he was still the most incredible big brother. He had changed so much over the last ten years. Maybe not physically but emotionally he had grown so much. Not only did Emmett graduate from Columbia but he graduated top of his class from undergraduate and medical school. Yeah, my brother was a genius. Been saying it for years. He and Rose live in LA. Emmett went to work for one of the best cancer hospitals in the country. He mainly works with kids. I was in complete aw of him.

"How's Charlie doing?" I asked, rubbing her belly.

"He's fine," sighed Rose. "Kicking the crud out of my uterus but I don't mind."

"I know," I sighed softly.

I turned to Alice and Jasper next. He was holding a very sleepy two year old boy in his arms. Jasper had finally decided that he wanted to study education. He received his masters degree in Special education and history. He works in with the Los Angeles school district with special needs kids. He's amazing with them. Alice's clothing line took off the summer between her junior and senior year at NYU. Her business is centered in LA but she travels all over the country. Her clothes can be seen on the biggest stars in Hollywood. In fact she designs everything that I wear for my shows.

"Aw, Will's tired," I sighed, rubbing the back of the blond haired blue eyed boy. "How did you tucker him out so fast?"

"We took him to the zoo," said Jasper, giving me a look. "Crazy, I know."

"Lay him down on the couch so he can sleep," I said.

"Ok," chuckled Jasper. I looked over at Alice.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"Like crap," she chuckled. "But the morning sickness is completely worth it. At least that is what I am telling myself."

"It is, Ali," I said, looking back at my daughter. "It so is."

"I know," she whispered, going over to sit down. I looked back at Carlisle and Esme.

"How are you feeling, Carlisle?" I asked, snaking my arm through his.

"I'm ok," he sighed. "I'm having a good day."

"Good," I whispered. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too," he whispered.

"Go sit down and rest," I ordered. "I want you to save your strength."

"I will," he muttered. He went over and sat down in a chair in the corner. I sighed and looked over at Esme, who looked warn out.

"How's he really doing?" I asked.

"Not great," she whispered. "He's trying to stay positive but…"

"I know," I murmured. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just give him a good show," whispered Esme, tears filling her eyes.

"I will, Mom," I whispered, hugging her.

Esme wiped the tears off her face and went over and sat down next to Carlisle. He wrapped his thin arms around her. Carlisle fell out of remission from lung cancer two years ago. He's gone through all the treatments but they've stopped working. The cancer has started to spread to the rest of his body. He maybe has months left. Esme told me a month ago that one of the items on his list is to see me and Edward perform in Carnegie Hall again. I had to pull some strings and call in a couple of favors to get here so fast but he just didn't have time to waste. I would do anything for him.

Ashley, my hair and make-up expert, came in and pulled me over to my chair so I could get ready for the show. I watched my family through the mirror as they talked quietly, being careful not to wake Will and Reneesme.

Edward and I had only become closer in the last ten years. Our marriage had it's low points, of course. Usually when we were having the annual tests done to make sure the leukemia wasn't back but over all we had clung to each other and managed to make it through unscathed and more in love than ever.

My first album through New Moon records did very well. It was the fastest selling album in New Moon history. Our summer tour was just the beginning of our journey through the music world. After our first album came out, I was asked to be the spokes person for the American Cancer Society. I couldn't turn them down. Edward and I have spent the last ten years working with them to help find a cure for cancer. Hopefully one day soon, they will.

Edward and I have made four more albums with New Moon, each doing almost as good as the first. Up until Reneesme was born, Edward was still the leader of my band. However, when she was born, he stepped back so he could take care of her while I performed, with the exception of tonight's show. Besides he loved the behind the scenes work as my record producer, anyway. Our main focus right now was Reneesme.

She was an auburn haired, brown-eyed little girl who had every man in her life completely wrapped around her little finger. Especially Edward. I can't say I blame him. We went through a lot to get our angel. Our little miracle baby. The chemotherapy treatments before and during the conditioning phase of my transplant made it impossible for me to conceive her the normal way. So we went through several rounds of In vitro fertilization. None of our family know about the struggles and years of pain that we went through to have our angel. In the end it didn't really matter, God blessed us with our miracle baby, Reneesme Carlie.

"Mrs. Cullen, it's show time," said Craig, coming back into the dressing room.

"I'll be right out," I said. He nodded softly before he left. I went over and helped Carlisle stand up. "You ready for this, Doc?"

"For ten year long years," whispered Carlisle. I could see the tears swimming in his eyes. "Bella…"

"I know, Dad," I whispered as Edward lead the others out of the room. I looped my arm with Carlisle's. "Me too."

Carlisle just nodded his head before the two of us made our way to the edge of the stage. I helped him sit in the chair that Emmett had brought out for him. Edward placed Reneesme in Carlisle's waiting arms and headed over to get ready for our show. I leaned down and kissed Carlisle's forehead, blinking back my own tears, before I headed out to the stage.

"BELLA!" Carlisle yelled. I stopped and looked back at him.

"What?" I asked.

"Don't forget about me when I'm gone," he called out as his tears fell down his face.

"Never, Doc," I called back, letting a tear slip down my face. "I'll never forget the man who saved my life."