Many apologies that it's taken forever for me to finish this story. But I promised I would finish, and here is the last chapter.

I played Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years" while writing this chapter. What a perfect song to end the Breaking Dawn Part II movie. I hope this chapter gives you 1/100th of the satisfied emotion I felt witnessing the end of the series on film.

It's been a thousand years since I updated the story, so let me catch you up to speed:

1) When Jacob told Bella that Edward had been back in Forks for months but hadn't made himself known to her, she felt suicidal. But she found her own strength and decided to live, right before Edward returned to her.

2) The wolves wanted to kill Edward for breaching their territory, but Bella and her psychologist Nina stopped them from following through on their threat. Victoria showed up and the Cullens chased her out of town. Charlie was ticked off at Bella when he found out she'd ridden a motorcycle.

3) Bella and Edward attended some NEEDED couples therapy with Nina.

And let's dive in to the last chapter to see how it all ends!

26. The Mended Road

"I get the Volturi's rule about keeping your kind secret from humans," Bella said to Edward as she mused about their recent trip to Italy. They sat below the pine trees near their psychologist Nina's house, hidden in the evening shadows, and the sharp tang of pine mixed with sweet vampire scent. "But I still don't understand why Aro wants you to change me so soon. It's clear I won't tell anyone — what's the rush?"

When Edward's hard chest shifted behind her back, she snuggled closer. "You intrigued him," he finally said. "You're the first to block Jane's pain signals."

"But I couldn't stop her from hurting you." Bella cringed as she recalled the sight of Edward writhing on the marble parquet. "I wish they hadn't forced us to visit them."

"Carlisle delayed as long as possible, but the Volturi were insistent. It was worth it to get them off our backs, for now at least." He paused, like he was trying to decide if he would say more. "They want you to become like them…because they want your gift."

Bella snorted. "I don't have a gift." She blinked several times. "Besides, I don't want to become like them. I want to become like you."

"Bella…we've discussed this. You know what will happen that first year after the transformation?"

She looked down. "I'll be a monster."

"A young woman as lovely as you could never be a monster," he countered. "But statistically speaking, more vampires are like them than like me."

"They're completely creepy." She shivered. "I can still hear the screams of those tourists…"

He tucked her tighter into his granite chest. "We shall never see them again." His voice lowered. "I hope."

She closed her eyes as she pressed her shoulder blades into his chest, reveling in having him back.

He sat up. "They're coming outside."

Bella squinted at the closed front door of Nina's house and a spark of excitement for Charlie bloomed up her spine. Then she peeked behind her, over her shoulder, with a grin. "Who's more nervous? Charlie or Nina?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Edward replied. "Their minds are difficult to access as usual."

Bella watched her father trail Nina out of her small house. Charlie darted his hand to the side, looking like he was about to place it at the small of Nina's back, but then he yanked his hand back into his pocket. Next his hand shot up and scratched his head.

"Your father keeps clearing his throat," Edward observed.

Bella giggled. "Charlie's freaking out."

"You don't need mind-reading skills to see that." Edward paused. "Hmm. There's Nina's mother, Hehewuti. This should get interesting."

"Be a good girl, Nina," Wuti hollered as she waved goodbye from the doorway. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Bella watched Nina mutter something but couldn't hear her from afar. "What did Nina just say?"

"She said, 'That eliminates exactly nothing.'"

Bella could hear Edward's smile in his voice as he answered. Her father must've thought Nina's response was funny too based on his chuckle. With a flourish, he opened the car door for Nina.

"Charlie just told her, 'Your chariot, madam'," Edward said.

Nina folded her body into the passenger seat of the police cruiser, and Edward continued to share his acute listening skills. "Nina joked she was relieved to be sitting in the front, not in the back with handcuffs. Charlie said, 'As long as you behave tonight.'"

Bella watched as Charlie closed the car door and rounded the trunk with a hop in his step. "I'm so glad Nina listened to us," Bella said with a contented sigh.

"They look happy together," Edward agreed.

Bella herself couldn't be happier now that Edward had returned, and she wanted that contentment for Charlie and Nina. Even without Edward's mind-reading skills, it was obvious that her father had fallen for her psychologist. And now that their therapy had ended, the possibility of Charlie's first date with Nina materialized tonight.

Bella recalled their last couples' therapy session, before she and Edward had left for Italy for the mandated meeting with the Volturi.

o*o*o*o

"So, our last session," Nina said, then frowned at Bella. "You're sure you're not terminating therapy just to make it okay for me to date Charlie?"

The suspicion in that question hit Bella hard, and she leaned back. "I already told you Edward and I discussed ending therapy before the Charlie issue even came up. I wouldn't lie to you."

"I don't think you're intentionally lying," Nina said. "But I wonder if you're placing the needs of others before yourself again. You've been known to do that."

"I'm not, Nina, I promise."

Edward offered, "To be fair, both of us have lied to Dr. Carlton in this office. She has every right to question our truthfulness." Bella noticed a look of guilt flit over his face before he turned to Nina. "But I am truthful about this: Bella watching her father suffer from loneliness—when the perfect antidote for that loneliness lives right here in Forks — " he gestured toward Nina " — that would be harmful for Bella. And I know your ethics code prohibits doing harm to your clients."

Nina stayed quiet as she studied him.

"We have made quite a mess of things up to now, but we're both striving to behave more maturely in this relationship — the way you taught us," Edward continued. "Just the other day, to show how Bella can place her own needs first, she allowed me to give her a gift."

"I did?" Bella scrunched her forehead.

Edward gave her a placid smile. "Yes. You just don't know it yet."

"Edward!"

"You're supposed to reduce your selflessness, correct?" he challenged.

Bella folded her arms across her chest. "That's not a fair way to rope me into accepting a gift. It better not be a car!" She leaned back on the cushy sofa with a harrumph then sat back up as she pointed her finger at him. "And you, Mr. Cullen — you're supposed to let me make my own decisions. You're not allowed to buy me a gift just because you think I need it. A gift should be something I want — not what you think I should want."

"You will like this gift," Edward said. When Bella cocked her head, he added, "Trust me. I know you have wanted it for some time."

Bella stared at him for a few long seconds. "Now I'm curious. Do you have it with you?" She shot out her open palm. "I'll take the gift now."

She watched Edward gape at her before turning to Nina, who sported the same incredulous expression. "What?" Bella asked.

"You definitely have made progress," Nina said. "You're asking for a gift now?"

"No!" Bella felt her face heat up, and when she looked back at Edward, sure enough his gaze honed in on her inevitably blushing cheeks.

"I enjoy this very much." Edward smirked. "Perhaps I'll have to withhold this tantalizing gift longer, if it elicits this type of reaction from you."

Bella glared at them both. "You people! Can we just end this session now?"

"Soon," Nina promised. "First I'd like to hear each of your thoughts about our therapy. What helped? What didn't? What progress did you make, other than Bella accepting a gift?" She winked at her. "What do you need to keep working on?"

Bella said, "I might not even accept this mysterious gift, so don't count that as progress."

"Okay." Nina smiled at her.

Bella wondered why Nina didn't argue. Then Bella blurted, "You know what the gift is, don't you?"

"Maybe." Another enigmatic smile from the psychologist. "I may have helped Edward with it." Nina smiled at him.

Bella's face flashed with heat and she found herself hollering, "Where is the darn gift?"

When Edward laughed, Bella's irritation vanished. It was so beautiful to watch her perfect vampire's stony face soften and lighten, his golden eyes smiling and his smooth voice caressing the happy sound erupting from his chest. "The gift is at Carlisle and Esme's," he told her. "Soon, my love. You will have the present soon."

"Even though I'm not sure about this gift, I love to hear your laugh," Bella told him. "I think it's a sign of progress for you. You've lightened up…you've relaxed."

He sat completely still, taking in her words.

"I agree, Bella." Nina nodded. "Edward's less uptight."

"I've never been uptight," he said.

Bella glanced at Nina and giggled as Nina's lips twitched.

A slow smile spread on Edward's face. "Well, maybe I've been a little uptight." He reached for Bella's hand and stroked it with his cool fingers. "You've helped me feel less morose; not so dark inside." His eyes bore into hers. "You've illuminated me in ways I've never known possible."

"I thought I made you worry about me?" Bella asked, then remembered Nina's comment about Edward's feelings being his responsibility. "I mean, I thought you worried about my safety all the time."

"Not as much anymore." He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips with human tenderness. "You can take care of yourself quite adeptly." The tips of each finger sparked with heat from his cool lips as he kissed them again. "And I wish to take care of you as well, if you'll let me. If you would like me to take care of you?"

Her heart fluttered, and she knew he could hear its pounding. She swallowed, then managed, "Please." Her tongue swept across her lower lip as she imagined his cool hand skating across her chest, feathering lower to her breast... "I like it when you…take care of me. When you love me." She hoped he understood how exactly she wanted his loving.

His gaze lifted from her hand and met her eyes with such intensity that she had trouble breathing. Flecks of gold glowed in deep amber as his devotion poured into her.

Nina cleared her throat, and Bella shook herself out of her enthrallment. "Seems you two are communicating rather well," Nina said.

"Sometimes…it's hard to get words out when Edward looks at me like that," Bella said.

He broke her gaze as he let go of her hand. "I apologize."

"That didn't mean you should stop."

Edward looked at her again but didn't pick up her hand. When his eyes darted in Nina's direction, Bella gleaned his shyness about public displays of affection in front of their psychologist. He was still concerned about propriety. Some things didn't change.

"To answer your question," Bella began, looking at Nina, "I think I feel stronger now. I think I can be with Edward without losing myself. I think I can speak up for myself."

Nina nodded. "That's wonderful progress."

"Thank you for helping me." Bella felt a blush warm her cheeks. "I, um, I couldn't have done it without you."

"You did it yourself, Bella. I'm happy to be part of that journey." Nina smiled at her.

Feeling the stares of Nina and Edward on her, Bella shrugged.

Nina rescued her by asking, "Edward, you said therapy may have helped you relax. How has therapy affected you otherwise?"

Bella's shoulders lowered with relief when the spotlight switched to Edward. "Disagreements," he said. "I've learned it is alright to have disagreements in a relationship. And that the man…that the man is not always correct."

Bella's eyes widened.

"That seemed difficult to admit," Nina said.

"Extremely." A hint of a grin lit up his face. "Dr. Carlton, you helped me see that Bella is an equal partner in this relationship. She has a right to choose her own path. As much as that path frightens me…" He glanced at Bella and she knew he worried about her transformation to immortality. "…I now realize it is her path to choose."

Nina's head tilted to one side. "You're referring to her choice to stay with you?"

"No." Edward shook his head. "It seems we have no choice in being together, thank goodness. Being apart nearly destroyed us both." He clasped Bella's hand once again.

"He's referring to my choice of becoming like him," Bella explained, and felt his hand tighten around hers. No matter what he proclaimed, she knew he still wished she wouldn't go through with the transformation. "I've asked him to change me."

"Wow." Nina blinked several times. "That's a monumental decision."

Edward nodded. "My reaction precisely."

"So this is one issue you'll need to continue working on after terminating our therapy," Nina said. "The decision to become a vampire. Are you sure you don't want to discuss this together in therapy?"

Bella inhaled a deep breath. "I'm sure. I know what I want."

"How does Jacob feel about this?" Nina asked.

Bella looked away. "He doesn't know."

"I see. When will this change happen?"

"After I graduate."

"You look upset, Edward," Nina observed.

"I have some reservations about this transformation. You know how important Bella's parents are to her, and after she becomes like me, she won't be able to see them again. I am trying to honor her decision, but I am worried…"

"Keep telling her your worries," Nina said as she nodded at Edward. "Respecting each other's decisions doesn't mean ignoring your needs. Successful couples resolve their conflicts through communication, negotiation, compromise."

Edward's strong grip loosened on Bella's hand. "Thank you, Dr. Carlton. I would like to continue discussing this."

Bella frowned. "I get why Edward's concerned. I know there's much to lose from my human life. But I'm already eighteen — I'm already older than he is. The longer we put this off, the older I'll be."

"Does Edward seem seventeen to you, Bella?" Nina asked.

Bella glanced at his erect, formal posture. "No."

"I agree." Nina's smile was warm. "You'll be okay, Bella. Take your time with this important decision, and listen to Edward's concerns. This will work out in due time."

After chewing on her lip for a few moments, Bella nodded. She was still in high school, after all. They had time to figure it out.

"This isn't a one-way street, you know," Nina said. "I've learned a lot from you two as well."

"You have?" Bella blinked at her.

Nina smiled. "Definitely. Bella, you're young, but you have an old soul. You're wise and caring. You care for your father no matter how frustrated you are with him. I think I've learned some patience in dealing with my mother from watching you and Charlie interact."

Bella gaped at Nina. Her psychologist learned something from her? From her interactions with Charlie?

"And Edward, the juxtaposition of your gentle and fierce natures fascinates me. Yes, it took you some time to figure out that you needed to stay with Bella. You both had to go through hell to find heaven together. But I think this is the only way you'd tolerate letting yourself be with Bella — to know there's absolutely no other choice."

Edward nodded. "True."

Nina's deep-brown eyes met theirs. "Together, you've taught me so much. The depth of your love touches me. I had that kind of love once, and I know how precious it is. Now that you two know how to balance your needs with that intense desire for each other, you'll be a force to be reckoned with. You both have a bright future."

"Thank you," Bella said "I hope you can have that love again, Nina."

Nina's warm gaze met Bella's. "Thank you. I hope so too."

Bella felt Edward stir next to her, and she looked up at him. He winked at her then turned to Nina. "Dr. Carlton, Alice shared a vision with me, about you and Charlie. Would you like to hear it?"

Nina paused. "I don't know. Does knowing the future alter it?"

"Not necessarily." Edward waited a beat. "Alice saw you and Charlie fishing together."

"Fishing?" Nina glanced down at her suede skirt. "I don't do fishing."

Bella laughed. "What were you just saying about compromise in a relationship, Nina?"

"Do as I say, not as I do, Bella."

"That's what Charlie tells me, too!" Bella said.

Edward turned to Nina. "You and Charlie are quite a match, then."

Nina rolled her eyes. "We'll see. If I really join him for fishing one day, I must like him. A lot." She sat forward in her chair. "So, I guess this will be goodbye for us, then."

Bella captured her lower lip with her teeth.

"How do you feel about goodbyes, Bella?" Nina asked her.

"I'm not very good at them. They're hard."

Edward stared at his shoes. "Especially when the person saying goodbye utterly abandons you."

Bella shifted closer to him. "I forgive you for leaving, you know. You thought you were doing the right thing."

He pressed his lips together, then finally lifted his head. "Thank you. I do not deserve your forgiveness."

"Do you forgive yourself, Edward?" Nina asked.

"No." His response was quick.

"That sounds like something for you to keep working on, then," Nina suggested.

"Yes, ma'am." Edward nodded. "We will never forget your understanding, Dr. Carlton. Nor your kindness."

Nina smiled as she stood. "It's been a pleasure."

Bella felt her hand scooped into cool vampire skin as Edward gently drew her to her feet. He reached out to shake Nina's hand, and Bella watched her psychologist flinch when their hands met.

"The cold ones," Nina said with a gradual smile. Her left hand molded around his bicep. "Turns out they're not so cold after all."

Bella could tell that Nina's goodbye had flustered Edward by the way he ducked his head as they finished their handshake. She wondered if it would be okay to ask for a hug from Nina, but she didn't ponder the issue for long. She simply stepped up to her psychologist and wrapped her arms around her. Nina didn't hesitate to return the hug, and her soothing embrace reminded Bella of her mother's hugs. She had to admit she missed Renee. Could she go for eternity without seeing her mother again, once Edward changed her?

o*o*o*o

Bella sighed as she watched the police cruiser roll down the road away from them. "I hope their date goes well. I guess I'll have to stop thinking of Nina as my psychologist, and more like…Charlie's…girlfriend?" She felt her nose wrinkle up as she tested out that unfamiliar term.

Edward drew quiet for a moment. "Are you alright with us ending therapy?"

Bella frowned, hearing the anxiety in his voice. "Do you think I need more therapy?"

"Not at all." He nudged his nose under her veil of hair and pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. When he leaned back against the pine tree, he angled her further back as well. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she reveled in the stitched-together feeling in her chest. After a few peaceful moments, he said, "Bella?"

"Mm-hmm?"

"Do you…do you think I need more therapy?"

She sat up and swiveled to face him, noticing the tightness around his eyes. "Edward, we probably both could use more therapy, one day. But for now, I'm happy. No more depression." She smirked. "No more hallucinations." She placed her hands on the sharp angles of his jaw and looked up into his flickering eyes. "Thank you for coming back."

"Thank you for taking me back."

She smiled as she twisted her legs around to straddle his. Intoxicated by his masculine scent, she angled up to meet the velvet caress of his lips. She tried to match the slow, sensual pace he established, but as usual, his brilliance overcame her. When her kiss grew urgent and forceful, he gently pulled away.

A flare of frustration bloomed in her chest, but she attempted to keep quiet and simply appreciate Edward back in her life. He still held the reins on their intimacy…maybe that was a good thing? Nina had told them to take it slowly — to avoid losing themselves in each other. But he was so darn beautiful! How was she supposed to slow things down in his enthralling presence? She had no idea how he managed such self-control. She would never be as strong as him, changed or unchanged.

"What are you thinking?" Edward studied her like a radiologist scanning an x-ray.

Her cheeks warmed. There would be no way she'd tell him her lustful thoughts. "I'm just happy Charlie's not alone."

The intensity of his gaze lightened, though he still appeared suspicious. He brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek. "You are so precious to me, Bella. You're my antidote to loneliness."

In one smooth motion, he stood and tossed her into the air. She squealed before she came back down into his arms. Those honey eyes locked onto hers. "Come. I have something for you, my little antidote."

*o*o*o*

As Edward's Volvo rocketed up the private drive toward the Cullen home, he finished his phone call with Alice.

"Is everything okay?" Bella asked.

He grimaced. "Just checking to see if Alice has seen Victoria in our near future."

Bella swallowed as she looked out the passenger-side window. Tall pines whipped by. She felt his cool fingers beneath her chin and let him swivel her face toward him.

"We will not allow her anywhere near you," he promised.

"I know."

"When I told Dr. Carlton I wanted to care for you, I didn't mention Victoria so as not to worry her further. But you know I will do everything in my power to protect you from my kind, correct?"

Bella smiled. "Yes."

"I will protect you from any creature — human, vampire…or otherwise."

Bella's smile vanished. "Jacob isn't a danger to me, Edward."

The wheels rolled to a smooth stop in front of the serene Cullen home. "You don't know shape-shifters like I do."

She slumped in her seat.

Edward's voice was tight. "Will we make our first reunion before my family full of tension and anger?"

"No." Bella turned to face him. "But we will keep discussing this, Mr. Cullen."

He slowly nodded. "That sounds fair, Ms. Swan."

"Bella!" Alice shrieked as she bounded up to the car. She had the car door wrenched open in a nanosecond.

Bella glanced at Edward before she climbed out of the car and braced herself as Alice almost squeezed her to death.

"Be gentle, sister," Edward said from behind her. "Bella's not going anywhere."

Alice let her go and stepped back, searching Bella's eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise. And your family's not going anywhere either." Bella gave Edward a pointed look.

"Good." Alice beamed. "It's much easier to keep my fashion wardrobe in one place."

"We've got the industrial crane hooked up to lift your two-ton suitcases from the car, Allie," Emmett drawled as he strolled toward the car.

Alice pursed her lips. "Not funny, Emmett."

Suddenly Bella's feet were airborne as Emmett twirled her around in his massive arms. He set her down on the driveway and winked at her. "Missed you, Bella."

"I missed you too." She ran a hand through her hair to straighten it and noticed Edward's eyes flutter shut, his nostrils flaring. She winced, knowing she had tortured him with her scent. "Sorry."

His eyes popped open. "Your scent is not painful anymore. It is exquisite."

Emmett snickered. "I can't believe you haven't done her yet."

Edward's horrified look made Alice giggle. Edward appeared to compose himself and tucked Bella by his side. "Where is Jasper?"

"Hunting with Rosie," Emmett said. "Want to go find them, Alice?"

"No, you go," she said. "I want to watch Bella's reaction to her gift."

Bella watched Emmett veer off into the forest. Then she looked at Edward, who spoke to Alice so quickly that she couldn't discern what he'd said. When Alice turned and zoomed off behind Emmett, Bella asked, "What did you tell her?"

"I asked for some privacy, for once."

"Asking for privacy is sort of funny coming from a mind-reader," Bella said.

Edward shook his head. "Exactly what Alice thought. Only you said it more politely. Come." He took her hand and guided her toward the modern structure. The glass exterior of the house reflected the deep greens and browns of the forest, allowing the architecture to complement rather than dominate the woodsy clearing.

Bella's chest tightened as she entered the expansive foyer, expecting to feel overwhelming sadness upon returning to his home after their separation. But the house's bright, lived-in glow soothed her instead. Her eyes scanned the living room. "You got your piano fixed!" She rushed over to skim her hand across the shiny black.

Edward made a strange sound at the back of his throat as he came up behind her. "Yes. And we made sure Jasper was away when you arrived, so it won't need further repairs."

She spun around and reached up to clasp her hands together behind his neck. "Jasper will be fine. Look how easily we can be together now. He'll learn how to manage my scent too."

Edward stared down at her with a somber expression. "I hope you are right."

"Where are Carlisle and Esme?"

"They are ensuring the safe arrival of our artwork. They will be here soon."

Bella snorted. "Yeah, I guess you don't want to wrinkle all those graduation caps hanging on the wall."

He chuckled. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No thanks."

"Then would you like your present now?"

Bella's eyes rolled to the vaulted ceiling. "Fine. Let's get it over with."

She trailed him up the stairs. As she passed through the door to his bedroom, her heart galloped. He looked back at her with questioning eyes and she managed an embarrassed smile.

"Receiving presents really is an unpleasant experience for you, hmm?"

She fought a furious blush. Maybe it was fine for him to think her excited heartbeat was about getting a present — not about being with him in his bedroom?

"Please, sit." He gestured to a chair that hadn't been there before. As she lowered herself onto the soft cushions, he pulled a rather large box from the bookshelf and placed it on her lap. The shiny pink wrapping paper and ornate fuchsia bow stared up at her. "Alice insisted on wrapping it," he grudgingly admitted. He crouched down beside her chair and gave her an expectant look.

"Sit with me?" Bella asked.

He rose immediately. Rather than squeeze his body beside her, he reached down to scoop her off the chair then turned and sat down with her now on his lap. The entire process flew by and she marveled that she still held the gift in her arms unscathed. She wiggled a bit. "Stone vampire isn't as comfy as soft cushions."

Edward's eyebrows pulled together and he shifted like he was about to get up. "Just kidding!" she said, then rested her cheek on his chest. "There's no place I'd rather be than on your lap."

She felt him sink back into the chair, and she closed her eyes when he began to thread his fingers through her hair. His voice sounded peaceful. "There's no place I would rather be, either." His sweet, tantalizing scent consumed her, and she knew he was breathing her in as well, given the slight rise and fall of his chest. "I have loved you for one-hundred years, Bella."

As she let out a long exhale, the tears pressing at the back of her eyes surprised her. What on earth could she be sad about? Upon reflecting for a moment, she realized the emotion she experienced was relief. He had returned to her, and their love was more solid now, more impenetrable. Though she would realize some future dreams and not others—the highs and lows characterizing the vicissitudes of life — she believed her nightmares had now ended.

"You're quiet," he said.

She smiled. "I'm happy."

He cradled her head to his chest with his hand. "Would you like to open your gift?"

"I guess," she sighed, and he chuckled. She lifted her head and shifted in his lap as she weighed the heft of the wrapped box in her hands. "It's heavy. It better not be expensive," she grumbled.

"Enough with the stall tactics."

Trying not to harm Alice's beautiful wrapping paper, Bella slid her finger under the tape and soon held the naked box on her lap. Once she removed the lid and saw the gift, her lips parted with wonder. "It's…perfect."

"Do you like it?" Edward's eagerness made him sound every bit the seventeen year-old.

A photo of her and Edward graced the cover of the photo album her mother had given her months ago. He must've dug the album out of her closet, where she'd tossed it in disgusted heartache after discovering he'd removed his photos when he'd left. She yanked open the album's cover and gasped when she saw an aged black-and-white photo of Edward dressed smartly in a tweed suit. "This is when you really were seventeen?"

"Yes."

She realized her mouth still hung open, and she closed it. "But this must be your only copy of the photo. Are you sure you want me to have it?"

"My past belongs to you, Bella." His eyes bore into her. "As well as my present."

"And my future belongs to you," she said in a trembling voice. "Our future."

He nudged toward her, filling her senses, and his lips grazed hers with the softest of pressure. Inhaling, she reveled in the sensuous feel of his deepening kiss. A rush of emotion overcame her — layers of passion, longing, and desperation — and she poured the flow of desire into him as she returned his kiss.

Suddenly he pulled back and smoothed his hand down her cheek. "Why are you crying?"

"Oh." She met his hand and felt wetness. "I…don't know."

"Do the photos make you sad?"

She shook her head. "I love the gift." Bella turned the next page to reveal a Cullen family photo right outside the home, with Emmett giving Rosalie rabbit ears behind her head.

"I thought you would like the photos," he said with a growing crease on his forehead. "Dr. Carlton told me I could never erase myself from your life. She helped me see how cruel it was of me to try to do so."

Bella met his eyes. "I was devastated when I found out you'd taken your photos." The memory of a gaping hole in her abdomen jarred her. But being so close to him now in the present — soaking him into her, gazing at his beauty — she knew that time was behind her. "It's the most perfect gift for me to have the memories back." She turned more pages and gasped when she came onto a nature scene of buttery sunlight and tiny purple flowers. "Our meadow!" She flipped through the vibrant green pages, finding each photo more beautiful than the last. A sob erupted from her throat.

"What is wrong?" Edward asked.

She blinked at him through tears and took a deep breath. "Nothing is wrong. This isn't how it felt when I cried, before." When you were gone, she silently added. "It's a good cry. I feel…whole…relieved. Maybe it's a happy cry?"

"Hmm." He studied her with puzzlement, seeming flummoxed.

"Edward, you'll have to get used to mood swings if we're going to stay together." When he still appeared skeptical, she said, "I love the gift. I really do." She closed the album's cover and gazed at their photo taken at prom the prior year. "I hope we can take a thousand more years of photos together. Just not at prom."

He smiled and finally seemed to relax. "I am glad you accept this gift so graciously, then."

She giggled.

His expression sobered. "You realize you have given me a gift, too?"

"I have?"

"You took me back." He gazed at her. "Your caring, giving spirit…that is a gift to me. One I cherish deeply. It's been a long road to find you, Bella."

She burrowed into his chest. "It's been quite the journey with you. I wonder what's next for us?"

"Alice seems to think she knows our future," Edward said as he stroked her temple.

"I wonder if she's right?"

Every long lost dream

Led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart

They were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way

Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

*"Bless the Broken Road", Rascall Flats

End Notes

Thank you for taking this journey with me! I've met some wonderful friends through Twilight.

If you'd like to follow my published novels, check out Jennifer Lane at jenniferlanebooks dot com

I write romantic suspense featuring healing and redemption for Adult, YA, and NA.