A/N: THIS IS THE EPILOGUEEEE. I can't believe I've finally finished.. I feel so empty haha.. I'm working on an All Human story right now, but it's super slow coming. I like to finish my stories before I post them because I never know if I really WILL finish them.. You'll probably see a few random one-shots from me before I post another full story.
xo Ana

I stand in the doorway of my old bedroom, staring at it sadly with my golden eyes. It's been months since Rosalie, Alice and Jasper successfully 'stole' me away from the Volturi's hands. I don't need to be Jasper to tell you that the fear instilled in each of us hasn't died down. We all know there's no way that this the end of the ordeal when I had been so key to them, even for a short period of time.

On another note, I know I have to do something with my aunt's house. I don't want to have to sell it- I have always loved that house- but I don't see how I can keep it. Sighing, I walk forward and flop onto the green and yellow bed like I had so many times as a human. I twist the beautiful engagement ring around on my left ring finger and can't help but smile a little when I think about the man I get to keep forever.

Hearing The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" playing from my pocket, I dig my phone out. My old one had been destroyed in the fight against James, so Jasper had bought me a new one. It was nothing special- much to my delight and Jasper's chagrin. He had wanted to buy me a new, top-of-the-line phone, but when I had spotted a cute little bright blue flip phone, I used my "you love me, don't you?" pout to get him to change his mind. I flip it open to see who's calling.

"Hello?" I answer.

"It's me." Emmett's voice sounds whiny.

"What's up, Em?" I ask, biting my lip against a laugh. I already have an idea of what's coming.

"I'm bored!" Emmett wails, his whine reaching its full potential. I let my laugh out, mostly because that is exactly what I've been expecting.

"I'm at the house," I tell him. Emmett huffs.

"No you're not, I looked everywhere and when I called Jasper, he said he didn't know you left."

"I'm at my house, Em," I say softly. "I'm still trying to decide what to do." The noise Emmett makes next makes me feel like he understands.

"I can be there in five," he offers.

"Please?" I hang up and almost stick my phone back into my pocket when it beeps obnoxiously.

Jasper: Where are you?

Alayna: My house.

Jasper: Want some company?

Alayna: Emmett's actually on his way over. I'll see you at three though, love.

Because of my prolonged absence and sudden physical changes, I had quickly decided against the idea of going back to school when I got back to Forks. Id take the exams at the end of the classes I was registered for though, keeping me right in check for ending junior year on time and graduating the next year with Bella, Edward and Alice. Instead of me going to school, one of the Cullen 'children' picked a day of the week and stayed home with Esme and me. Since there were five of them, it worked that each school day, one of the Cullen children was missing. Esme hated the idea, and said often how she was just waiting for someone to notice.

Bella had healed nicely and was back in school with them, although she still didn't much like the idea of humanism. I haven't seen her yet, due much to Edward's fierce protectiveness. I don't blame my new 'brother', though. He's doing what he has to in order to keep his love safe. If I'm being honest, I don't much like the idea of being around Bella just yet, anyway. I have yet to test my thirst on humans and I'm not thrilled with the idea of Bella as a trial.

"Hey." Emmett flops carefully onto the other side of my large bed. I jump. I've been so lost in thought that I haven't noticed Emmett come in the house, let alone my room. I've always been close to Emmett, but I found in the months after my return, I have a new bond with him that neither of us can even begin to explain. In addition to my obvious ability to read and manipulate minds, it seemed that Emmett somehow knows most of what I want to say before it reaches my lips.

"Hey," I say back, staring up at the ceiling.

"What would she want you to do?" he asks after a long silence.

"I don't know. What would you want your niece to do with your house after you died?" Emmett makes a weird noise and I turn my head to look at him. He's got an uncomfortable look on his face.

"Don't think of it like that, Lay," he pleads. "She's in a better place." I turn my head back to stare upwards.

"At least she didn't live to see me change," I comment, trying to sound like that was the upside. Even though I can't see it, I know Emmett rolled his eyes at me.

"I don't think she'd much care," he says honestly. "I think she knew long ago what we were, she was just operating on the 'don't-give-me-details' frame of mind."

"It's possible," I say thoughtfully. "She and Carlisle were great friends." Emmett gives a low chuckle that rumbles the bed a little.

"She was one of the only people besides Esme who told Carlisle exactly what she was thinking exactly when she was thinking it." I smile. That sounds like how my mom used to be, too.

My phone makes that awful noise again and I pull it from her pocket. I'm still not used to the speed that vampires can use, so I often do things at a more human pace. Carlisle applauds me for it, telling me it will be easier to go back to school- if I choose to go back. I flip the phone open to find its screen reading "1 New Message".

Alice: Keep it. You and Jasper will live there when we throw you out for being too loud all the time.

I look back at Emmett, showing him the screen.

"You never bet against Alice," he says with a smile. I look back at the screen and start a new text.

Alayna: Are you saying this because you love my closet or because you've seen that I keep the house?

Emmett, watching me type, lets out a snort when I hit 'send'.

Alice: Both. Jasper says to tell you to come home. We've been here all of five seconds and he's already ready to come looking for you.

Alayna: Stall him? We're on our way back.

Alice: He says to say he misses you.

I turn to Emmett again, who hauls himself out of the bed. I do the same and together, we run home. Jasper is sitting on the front steps waiting when we get back. He walks out to meet us and immediately folds me in his embrace. I hug him back fiercely, still loving the fact that he feels warm to me now.

"Let's go inside," he murmurs. We break apart, our hands still interlaced, and I realize that Emmett has already gone inside. We walk up the drive and into the house, where the lights suddenly turn on.

"Happy birthday!" I know face must look ridiculous because the whole family laughs. Jasper stands by my side while everyone hugs me tightly.

"Aren't I not allowed to have birthdays anymore?" I ask Jasper in a low voice, aware everyone can hear me. Jasper just chuckles.

"When you live with Alice, you have lots of them." He kisses my cheek suddenly, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Happy birthday, love." I smile and look up at him.

"I love you, Jasper Whitlock" I say with a goofy smile on my face. His eyes twinkle just like the first time I ever told him I loved him. He reaches his lips down to mine, stopping just before they touch.

"I love you too, Alayna Roberts" he says, his voice low and deeply rooted in his southern accent. He finally brushes his lips against mine. I smile into the kiss, knowing this is where I get to be for the rest of forever.