Bella's POV

The trip to Alaska was fairly quiet, more so then I expected. Of course there was babble streaming from Jessica's lips, but it wasn't incessant like it usually was. Ben, Eric, and Emmett had clicked right away, joking and commenting all the way there, Mike joining in every once in a while. Alice was cheery and exuberant. Maybe it just seemed like a quiet trip because I was mostly lost in my thoughts.

I warred against myself. What I had lost versus what I had gained. What I missed versus what I did not. What I was glad for, what I felt miserable about. I felt blessed to still be alive, to have Edward.

I wanted this to happen. It's what I secretly hoped for, right? I secretly wished for a catalyst that would set off the events of leading me back to the one I had lost but never stopped loving. And it made me even more happier knowing somewhere deep within his suffering he was hoping for that, too, despite his misguided, but good-intentioned promise. It was what I wanted, what we both wanted, and yet it seemed hideous that we'd be happy.

Through the entire trip I never came to reason with myself about how pleased I was this all happened. Of course, it's not easy to win something when playing against yourself.

The Denali's had been ecstatic to see us again. Carmen was especially welcoming, offering us clothes and showers. If I had to compare their coven with Carlisle's I would say she was the Esme of the family, the heart, the one who ran the household so it would be comfortable and home-y.

We met Tanya for the first time. The strawberry blonde had the same kind of beauty as her sister Kate, that feminine boldness. She was sweet, very sweet,and quite enticing. Mike's eyes followed her around everywhere. He was hardly tactful about it, but that seemed to appeal to Tanya.

She was glad to see me, and found me interesting for some reason. I guessed it was the same interest that the other Denalis had when they first heard I was Edward's.

Irina, the other sister, wasn't around. The Denali's only said that she had gone away for a while. None of them were going to explain it further, and who were we to pry?

I went straight for the opportunity to bathe before the others even had time to process her words. It was refreshing to rid my now-beautiful diamond body of all the filth it had collected in the past few days.

After washing the tangles in my hair - the leaves, twigs, and dirt all twined together was just as hard to get unknotted as I expected - I stood under the shower head, letting the water rush over me, drowning out the sounds my sensitive hearing easily picks up from outside the bathroom walls. The hot water felt good on my skin. I didn't know the temperature made a difference to vampires. Maybe it was just the hot water though that warmed the unusually cold - cold to others not of our kind - skin we had. Despite what my friends may think I didn't know a lot about this life. So I knew the basics, big deal. Everything else was completely new to me. Whether that excited me or frightened me was another story; an unfinished story at that.

A loud roar shook the house. My head shot up, my hand immediately going to turn off the water. But the sound wasn't terrifying, or scared, or defensive even. It was frustrated about something. I stepped away from the water for a moment to understand what was going on. I could hear a bustle of commotion outside; a victory cry, taunting and amused comments, laughter...

The laughing was enough for me. I went back to enjoy the moment in the steaming water. I closed my eyes and focused on nothing. I didn't want to think. I didn't want feel.

That time was short lived, however. Of course my mind never does what I want it to. Soon I was battling against myself again, attempting to figure out the right feelings to feel, the correct thoughts to think. The conflictions raged on.

I shut the water off, annoyed at myself.

That's when I heard a sound that made my still heart flip. Edward. It wasn't just a quick snicker, or a soft chuckle. He was laughing. Really, truly laughing. I was frozen in place, hand on the towel I had reached for. The noise was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. It slowly quieted, but I continued to listen. It had been months since I last heard him like that, months that felt like years to me, decades. My lips curve up involuntarily. How could I not smile?

When the light laughter finally subsided, I quickly yanked the towel off the rack. I was anxious to get back to Edward. To see his flawless face. To hear his smooth voice. To look into those entrancing eyes and I don't care what comes out of my mouth without my permission when I'm trapped in them as long as I'm able to see them...forever. I was suddenly extremely jovial. Edward loved me. And I was able to stay with him as an equal. I had to be the luckiest girl alive, more or less.

And then, abruptly, my high spirit drifted away.

Lucky? That's what I was. But I was also happy, and it didn't seem right of me. Right and wrong, what were they? Is this how Edward feels all the time? Is this what vampirism does to you? Makes you question yourself over and over in a pointless attempt to place meaning on everything?

I stepped from the tub, frowning at myself.

Then another problem hit me. I remembered that I had no new clothes to change into. I sighed at the thought of putting on the rags my original clothes had turned into again, but when I looked at the floor, the pile I had left them in was gone. My brow furrowed in confusion. That's when I spotted the new pile, neatly folded and placed on the tiled counter by the sink. I hadn't heard anyone open the door. Too consumed in my shower and tuning out the world around me probably. I was grateful for the loan, though.

However, the first garment I picked up and let unfold was a light-weight, deep blue dress. I grimaced. Alice.

Why was she forcing a dress on me already? We were in Alaska for goodness sake! Sure, the weather temperature didn't affect vampires, but still! I wanted to crumple it up and throw it back in Alice's face - very unnatural of me, but maybe it was the newborn hormones kicking in, so to speak. I decided against it, though, and just went with it. I didn't want to upset her; I just got her back. At least there were leggings and a nice black sweater along with it, and the shoes weren't some ridiculous heels (that would have been awkward in the snow).

After I was clothed, and my hair was dried and brushed, I opened the window to let the steam that had built up out and I went back into Tanya's room, as it was her shower I was using. I was surprised to find people in there. Someone was shuffling through Tanya's closet, though I was fairly certain on who it was. Rosalie was by the large vanity mirror in the corner of the room. I saw her sorting through one of the drawers, her hair slightly damp still from her own shower.

"Enjoy your shower, Bella?" A high voice asked. Alice popped out of the closet, some clothes hung over her arm.

"Yes. I needed it," I answered, forcing a smile. I don't think I put enough effort into it. After appraising my outfit, Alice's gaze rested on my face and she raised an eyebrow, frowning.

She laid the clothes - two pairs of dark jeans, a nice white blouse, a pink top, and two black jackets (why couldn't she have picked clothes like that out for me?) - on the bed and came over to me, stopping only a few inches away. She stared at me for a moment, her head tilting slightly to the side.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked finally.

I opened my mouth to tell her 'nothing', but she was quicker than I was.

"I will smack you if you say nothing," she warned. Her threat was almost comical, but I was in no mood. Is that why I was so transparent to her right now? I could usually lie about my feelings a lot better than this. "Why do you look so down, Bella? You should be happy." She smiled.

"I am. That's the problem," I sighed. I had Edward. I had my vampire family back. I still had my school friends with me. I was still living on this earth while Victoria was no longer wreaking havoc. Yet, no matter what I have now I could not justify my happiness as right.

"You can tell me, Bella," Alice promised quietly.

That's right, I could tell her anything. But would she understand? Or would she think badly of me, too?

"I could leave," Rosalie said slowly. She closed the drawer she had been searching through, and moved to leave. Her presence was not bothering me though, and I found myself shaking my head at her request. Although, I did wonder if she would hate me more than she does, if she still hated me at all, if she found my joy for what's happened disgusting, too. I wasn't sure about Rosalie as of yet, but that was an entire different problem.

Rosalie stood still when she saw me denying her offer, confused that I would want her to stick around at all. I knew she expected I didn't like her either.

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to say anything to either of them. And yet I did.

At first I didn't say a word. I didn't move. I didn't breathe. And Alice and Rosalie didn't say a word. They didn't move. I couldn't hear their breaths. All that could be heard were the rambunctious boys outside. A loving conversation between Carlisle and Esme. Angela's thoughtful voice. Kate's confident one. Eleazar, too. And Mike. Emmett. Every voice but the three in this room. They all sounded so cheerful. So what was wrong with me? Why did it feel so bad to me to be joyous with the rest of them?

Actually, I felt I had a good understanding as to why I felt so disgraceful for wanting to be joyful, why I felt so much remorse for it.

Finally, I opened my eyes to look at Alice. Something in my expression startled her. My voice came out soft, quiet.

"Is it wrong to feel happy that something terrible has happened all because of what you got out of it?" Saying the words aloud made them sound even more repulsive. Selfish. Completely, utterly selfish.

When she continued to stare at me, eyes calculating, I bowed my head. I shouldn't feel any good emotions at what has happened to my home, or to me. I shouldn't have said anything either, not a word. I wanted to keep explaining, to keep them from not being disgusted with me. I struggled to find the right words, my eyes locked on the security of the floor.

"I'm so happy, really. I mean... How can I not be happy with Edward? And you guys... But it never would have happened if not for..." My voice cracked. "I shoudn't be happy that it happened. It can't be right!" I cursed at myself. What I wanted to say came out jumbled and weird.

There was still silence across the room. It made my stomach twist uneasily. I was afraid to take a glimpse of their faces. Afraid at what I would find there.

"Sometimes...," - I looked up, shocked to hear Rosalie's hesitant voice, instead of Alice's, break the silence - "Sometimes I look at what I am and hate myself, disgusted for living such an existence. For being such an inhamane, damned immortal who's natural instinct is to kill. And we who live as vegetarians try to be good, try to resist, but sometimes we slip up and it's out of our control. Our nature ruins another's life, another's family. I look back on things like that, back at how it tortures the ones I care for who have committed it, and back at how furious I am at what was stolen from me, and the hate within me grows. It's a feeling where I don't ever want to be happy because I feel I don't deserve that. And because I feel I don't deserve it, I resist it, and I find myself miserable."

Rosalie paused, staring out the window, her marble face filled with emotions I've never seen there before. I don't think I've ever given myself the chance to see the Rosalie behind the mask of pride and beauty. Then again, I don't think I was ever meant to. That's why she wears it.

"Yet, somehow, whenever my thoughts turn worse, turn into such loathing I can hardly call myself sane anymore, Emmett appears and I find my happiness again. With him, it's as if the rest of the world just has to suck it up and deal with their problems, just like I had to, because I find I don't care anymore." She laughed once to herself. It sounded slightly embarrassed, like she was admitting a flaw. "And that sounds horrible, at first. But you get to understand that it's not wrong."

A part of me was stunned this was all coming from the same blonde-haired beauty that shunned me or glared at me for all that I've known her, but only a small part. We were equals now, on one level at least, and most importantly she saw me as family now, too.

The whole other part of me was still conflicted. I tried, really tried to not feel the guilt. I tried to grasp Rosalie's words and take it to heart, but...

"But it all is so wrong." I wanted to bang my head against the wall, even if it technically would only create a giant hole.

"Bella, listen to me. I know selfishness; I've known my entire life, human and not. Emmett, and Carlisle and Esme, and my sister and brothers...the happiness they bring me is the one thing I have that I love, that I will always want that does not make me selfish, and it shouldn't make you feel that way either.

"You hate yourself don't you? Repulsed by the good feelings in you when you feel you should be mourning? I can't empathize with you on that, but I can sympathize. Believe it or not I am capable of it." She smiled briefly, then she was serious again. "None of us entered this life wanting it. Not even you. And none of us were changed on bright circumstances. It's true most of us were about to die anyway, our human lives considerably over already, but it does not make it any less tragic. I can tell you from my own inner struggles that it's not wrong to embrace those good feelings once you've found them."

"We know you're not glad what happened in Forks because it lead you back into Edward's arms," Alice said. I stopped breathing. She had hit the problem dead on. Her gold eyes were staring very warmly at me, comforting, understandingly. "We know this because we're all happy, too. Did you see Carlisle's and Esme's faces recently - they're elated. And you know they hate the situation that lead to the reuniting of their family much more than any of us."

There was a quiet pause as I took that in.

"I am sorry for what you have lost," Rose's voice was softer than usual, "and the means by which you lost it. But wallowing will not help it, Bella. What is gone is gone for good." Her beautiful face looked solemnly at me, yet it had a strong firmness about it. "It's all right to mourn for your loss. Remember and miss Charlie and your mother, and feel for those who have so unfairly been hurt. But don't you think for an instant that that prohibits you from any form of happiness. Whether you feel you deserve it or not, it's what you have. Appreciate it because others are not so lucky."

"Be happy, Bella. Charlie and Renee, they would want that for you. And Jacob, too," Alice added knowingly, remembering how much Bella's wolf-friend did to keep her alive and safe.

"And...you do deserve it," Rose finished; her smile was timid, but sincere.

I could do nothing but stare at them, the two opposite-looking girls in front of me. The two sistes who knew what they were talking about and were sure of themselves as well as their words.

And here I feared they would think little of me. That they understood had my eyes filling up with non-existent tears. It was OK. I wasn't a bad person. I was simply misjudging where my joy was coming from.

Yes, I wish that it all came about differently. I wish the people of Forks hadn't lost their lives. But how do I know I wouldn't have Edward back if it didn't happen? It was an unfortunate way to go, but it's the way we did go. I can feel bad and happy at the same time. Like Rosalie said, it's all right to feel happy for what I've gained because it doesn't mean I don't regret the losses, losses that I had blamed myself for that were not my fault. Slowly, very slowly, but perhaps surely, my thoughts were becoming more clear, and most importantly more correct.

Alice pulled me into a tight hug. "It's OK, Bella. So no crying," she commanded.

"I can't help it," I said in a weak voice, but I was glad it notably sounded much brighter.

"Then at least wait to do it in front of Edward."

I pulled back from her, confusion mixed in with my unshed tears. "Why?"

"Because then you get kisses."

I laughed with her. Rosalie smirked, nodding to herself, knowing it was true. I wondered if they faked it sometimes with Emmett and Jasper... I was about to ask but Rosalie spoke before me.

"Maybe she should save that for another time actually. After seven-plus months of seperation I don't think Bella has to worry about keeping Edward's attention 24/7."

"True," Alice allowed. Her eyes became aware. "In fact, here he comes now, searching you out." She ran back to the bed, snatched the clothes off of it, and her and I followed Rose out of the room.

I saw Edward when we hit the top of the stairs and started descending. He stopped walking when seeing us, his crooked smile spreading across his face, just enflaming me with desire. Everything about him was so inviting - and he claimed it was just the built-in vampire nature that lured me to him when I was human.

"How's Emmett?" Rosalie asked him when she stepped on the landing.

"Still sore."

"He's lying!" Emmett's voice yelled from outside. Edward smirked.

"Sore about what?" I asked curiously. Edward had intertwined our hands the moment I stepped off the stairs.

"About losing, of course." The grin on Edward's face grew when Emmett shouted something about cheating.

"Oh. Was that him who caused that earthquake a little while ago?" I remembered the house shaking when I was in the shower.

"That was him."

"Earthquake," I heard Emmett scoff. "Barely an aftershock," he added more lightheartedly.

"You're still a sore loser," Jessica sang mockingly.

"And you're still annoying me," Emmett countered in the same tone.

"Emmett," Esme reprimanded. A mumbled 'sorry' came right after.

I smiled. Poor Emmett.

"Poor Emmett," Rosalie sighed quietly, repeating my exact thought. Unlike me, she sounded teasing.

"You don't mean that," Emmett said, appearing by the two large glass doors that were open and lead out to where everyone else was. Rosalie didn't stop there though.

"My poor, poor baby," she continued, passing Edward and I, moving toward her husband.

"I don't think you're one to mock, Rose. You're worse than he is," Edward said. Rosalie glanced back at Edward with a deadly eye.

"Prove it," she challenged.

He pursed his lips, thinking something over. He gave a defeated shrug. "I can't. You are more subtle than he is. It's very impressive." His tone was sarcastic on the last remark, but Rosalie wasn't bothered by it. In fact, I bet she enjoys that kind of humor. Rosalie smirked and turned back to a curious looking Emmett.

"You're a sore loser, too, babe?" The thought seemed to amuse him, despite what he just admitted about himself.

Rosalie smacked his arm. But I saw, when her eyes met his, that gleam of adoration. Her tender, sympathetic speech from before echoed through my head.

"Rose, Alice," I said, meeting the eyes of each. They both turned to me curiously. "Thank-you."

Alice and Rose smiled, though Rose's was small and kind while Alice's looked more like the Cheshire Cat's.

"What are sisters for?" they said in unison.

"Jinx! You owe me a Porsche." Alice added at our blonde sister gleefully, skipping past Edward and I.

Rosalie looked annoyed now. "I told you before, Alice, I'm not playing those ridiculous modern-age games." Alice passed her and Emmett. "And why a Porsche?"

"First thing that popped into my head." Alice shrugged daintily as she made her way to Jasper.

"If you think about it, it's a nice car," Emmett granted. Rosalie couldn't seem to argue with that.

"You sure you still want those three as siblings?" Edward asked me, bringing me closer to him.

"I've always wanted some," I answered, trying to sound nonchalant as I watched said siblings head away from us. "Don't you like them?"

He shrugged, matching my own pretended casualness. "I think having siblings is overrated."

I looked up at him at the same time we heard four scoffs from outside. We smiled at each other.

He leaned down, chuckling in my ear, and kissed my cheek. The move would have risen goosebumps on my arms if it was still physically possible - the good kind.

"That color still looks lovely on you," he said, lips still touching my skin, the warmth of them always catching me off guard.

I could have blushed, another human trait I'd never experience again, and one I would not miss. I had forgotten he liked this deep blue on me. Apparently Alice hadn't though. She was very useful sometimes, I had to admit.

Then he took my face gently, but securely, into both his hands. "Of course, you look lovely in anything. More than lovely. Beautiful."

I rolled my eyes on this one.

"Honestly, Edward, the way you see me-"

My words were cut off abruptly when his mouth came down on mine. My eyes widened for less than half a second in surprise, before I closed them and, my coherency on the world around me vanishing, I kissed him back. This kiss was unlike any other I remember. This wasn't careful, or cautious. It was passionate, boundary-less, possessive even. I waited for the dizziness or the need of oxygen to hit me, when I realized they would never come. I was no longer confined to human restrictions. I was not fragile anymore. He couldn't accidentally kill me with one slip of self restraint. It thrilled me.

One of his hands slid to the back of my head, holding my face to him. I was clutching the front of his shirt before letting it loose and tangling my fingers in his bronze hair instead, letting our bodies collide. He was so warm, so soft, so perfect...it was indescribable.

"Well this is just so sweet."

Mike's sarcasm, followed immediately by Emmett's short guffaw, had me pulling away from Edward hurriedly, startled. Edward had only pulled his head away and he caught my hands in his when I involuntarily jumped away from him. He didn't let me go, and he didn't look embarrassed, the way I felt. He merely looked annoyed at being interrupted.

Emmett laughed harder at my reaction, with Jessica and Kate. I must have looked like a complete idiot. Even Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie were holding back their own laughter. Angela looked embarrassed for me, and Esme looked apologetic. How did everyone manage to come inside without me realizing it? Did Edward hear them? Or did he just not care that he heard them? Again, I was so grateful my blushing days were over.

"Well, that was quite an intriguing sight, I must say," Tanya said, eyes appraising Edward. Through my humiliation I found I wasn't liking the way she looked at him. But I shook my head of it. What a stupid overreaction. "And here I thought you were so pure, Edward," she mused.

"Pure compared to who, Tanya?" Edward asked, cocking an eyebrow her way.

"Definitely not to her," Kate delightfully answered. Tanya laughed.

"Oh, sister, how you flatter me."

The whole exchange clearly held a joke I wasn't seeing, as everyone other than my friends and I looked either amused with the sisters or courteously indifferent. I decided maybe I didn't want to know.

I noticed Angela and Jessica were carrying the clothes Alice had seeked out. They were next up for the showers, as there were only two in the house.

The hours went by quickly with our large group lounging in the Denali living room, some of us venturing around the house and outside once in a while, until everyone got their chance to wash up. The boys had it rough when it came to borrowing clothes, as they were all so different in size. Carlisle, Jasper, Edward, and Eric all managed Eleazar's clothes rather accurately. Mike was just a little bit off the mark. Emmett and Ben had it the hardest; Emmett being so big, and Ben being so short compared to the others. Since the fitting was only temporary they'd all manage. However, Alice did the best she could to help find clothes for everyone and still have them look good. Emmett didn't seem to be liking tight pants though, especially with the teasing that came with them.

"Can we go home now?" he asked Carlisle, pouting, after one fit of laughter from the room was aimed at him.

Carlisle had just came down stairs, finished with his own shower. He smiled. "Home does sound good. I took leave from the hospital at a bad time," he said, his smile gone.

I saw Jessica and Angela glance at each other. I wasn't making any mistakes this time with my friends, I wouldn't miss their subtle looks, the problems they were only speaking to each other about. I knew the word 'home' bothered them, because they didn't know where said place was. And it worried me, too. Where were they supposed to go? One glimpse at Edward's face told me he was reading their thoughts.

"Of course, you're all welcome to join us," Carlisle said, speaking to my friends. He didn't bother with me; my choice was Edward.

"Really?" Jessica asked hesitantly. "You'd take us all in?" She seemed shocked.

Carlisle and Esme shared a look.

"Of course we would," Esme said.

"But there's so many," Eleazar warned the matriarch. Esme nodded slowly, like she knew this but couldn't leave someone behind. It was her nature, after all.

"Actually, I'd like to visit Japan," Ben announced suddenly. Everyone turned to him. This news surprised Angela, too. "I've always wanted to, and now I have all the time in the world, right?"

"You do," Carlisle agreed.

Edward grinned. "You don't have to live like we do," he said. "It's never been heard of as of late, but you could be vegetarian nomads. Carlisle was one, in the beginning... Even Alice." Alice grinned proudly. "I see that most of you want to travel someplace, to visit places you've never been but always dreamed of. Now's your chance."

"That is an option as well," Carlisle said. "As long as you are careful of human contact for the first couple of years." His topaz eyes were caught on the realization of something.

"We've never even smelled human blood yet," I offered, knowing where his thoughts were stuck.

"That is a problem... You'd have to be extremely careful everywhere you go."

"Until we're like you?" Eric said. "I mean, until we can at least interact with humans without...losing control."

Carlisle nodded.

"I have an excellent solution," Tanya said merrily. She was always happy. "Why don't you all stay here for a while, until you've at least encountered humans a few times before heading off on your own. We Denalis can help you with that. Those of you who want to go, anyway."

"I'm with Ben," Angela said. Ben smiled gratefully, and adoringly at her.

"Thanks, Ang."

"Thank-you for the offer Dr. and Mrs. Cullen, but I'm going to stay with Angela and Ben," Eric said.

"Same here," Jessica said. "They're my family now."

"Do whatever you feel is right," Esme told them all, pleased they were finding their places in this life.

"What about you, Mike?" Ben asked. Mike had been abnormally quiet. Something I knew happened when he was thinking hard on something.

Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett had gathered by the front door, all ready to leave. As Emmett shifted uncomfortably, eyes on his legs, I heard Jasper ask him if he could make it all the way to New York without bursting out of his jeans. Emmett punched him in the arm.

"It's just to the nearest town," Alice assured. "Then we can buy some different clothes there."

"If people stare at me...I'm going to stop and stare right back at them," Emmett promised, looking glum.

"I'm not sure yet," Mike finally responded. "But I might go with my friends as nomads," he glanced at Tanya then away, "and then maybe come back here someday, if that's all right."

Tanya's eyes lightened. "Of course, Mike. Come back whenever you need to." She smirked, and it looked very seductive. My eyes widened slightly and I looked at Edward. His lips were in a tight line. He was amused.

"That settles it then," Carmen said. "We will help these young ones get more used to the human-free diet and then send them on their way to travel the world."

I watched, delighted, as my friends all smiled brightly at one another. They were their own family now. And that's the way it should be.

"I guess this is goodbye, Bella," Angela said, walking over to me. I hugged her.

"Only for now," I reminded her. After all, we did have an eternity to meet up again.

"Come visit us in Ithaca a year from now," Emmett said, grinning wickedly at Mike, Eric, and Ben. "No newborn strength to help you out then, and I want a fair rematch." The boys eyed Emmett, accepting the challenge.

"Yes, don't forget to check in with us," I agreed, though for entirely different reasons than my burly brother.

Jessica came up to hug me next. "We've been through a lot together, Bella. Of course we'd come visit you."

"You might want to rethink your request if your including Jessica, Bella," Mike mumbled. "Argh!" Mike's hands flew to his head. "Damn it, Jessica!" he hissed through his clenched teeth.

"He was only kidding," Edward defended. That alone had everyone confused. Edward sticking up for Mike? Even Jessica stopped using her gift and looked at him. Edward's tightly shut eyes opened, and he massaged his temples. "That was unpleasant," he explained.

I frowned. Edward could hear Mike's thoughts, including Jessica's torture on those thoughts.

"Sorry," Jess said quietly to Edward. I could tell she was still a little timid around him.

"Sure, apologize to him," grumbled Mike. Eric and Ben sniggered at him. I sighed. How were they going to survive each other on their own? But, I suppose they were still a family. A dysfunctional one, but one nonetheless. And I would miss them. I smiled then, and threw my arms gently around Mike. The action startled him, but then he hugged back. "Bye, Bella," he said. "Enjoy life with Cullen, though I don't see the appeal."

I heard Edward chuckled darkly. "Neither do I." I grimaced in his direction, but he paid me no attention. "I do have to thank you though, Mike, for coming back."

I didn't understand what he meant.

Mike looked away and shrugged. "It wasn't for you. Figured if Victoria won she would still come after Bella; someone had to stop her."

Oh. That cleared my confusion up. It really was Mike's choice to return to help us fight.

"Either way, I still appreciate it." Edward was fully smirking now, amusement evident on his face, but his appreciation was sincere.

"See you later, Bella," Ben jumped forward, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "We'll get you something in Japan." His eyes danced with excitement. He had always been the one unphased by the whole you-turned-into-an-immortal-bloodsucking-monster thing.

"Thanks," I laughed.

We thanked the Denali's for all their hospitality, and my friends for all they've helped with, and wished them all luck. Soon my family and I were on our way back to wherever our current home was. I obviously had never been there before. I've never even been farther east than Albuquerque. Of course, we had to run all the way across the country due to the fact I was too young to ride an airplane full of human passengers. Edward and I had offered to go alone, so that the others could get there by plane, but Carlisle and Esme didn't want to seperate after just getting their family back together and none of us could say a word against that.

Carlisle and Esme lead the way, followed by Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper, and Edward and me, all hand in hand with our significant other. I looked between the three perfectly matched couples in front of me, and then Edward beside me, knowing he'd been looking between the same lovers for years while he'd been alone. As I stared, contemplating on all we've been through, I realized I was the last piece of the Cullen puzzle. Even though the love was instantaneous among us, the family took centuries to create.

The happiness I've been resisting before came back ten fold. Only this time I didn't avoid it. I was not scared of where it came from, because I knew now that it was OK.

"Are you all right, love?" Edward asked, examining my face as we ran. Whatever he saw there did not make him anxious. Maybe slightly concerned, but merely curious.

I nodded. Not bothering to hold back any good feelings anymore, I smiled brightly up at him. His face glowed when I did.

"I'm just embracing the happiness," I responded.

Edward leaned down and kissed the corner of my mouth. A surge of bliss surged through my veins, warming my cold heart. "I'd want nothing less from you," he said. "You just keep embracing it, forever."

Forever. I liked forever. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Alice and Rose smiling. I smiled with them, finally content, finally where I was always meant to be, with my destiny securely by my side.

The End

Well, there you have it. The end. I had a lot of fun writing it. I hoped the last chapter satisfied you, and that the story as a whole was entertaining (because that's what stories are - forms of entertainment). Thank-you to all those who have reviewed. Don't stop now, it's the last chapter! I would love to know your final thoughts.