Thank you to everyone who has supported this story. I have enjoyed writing it and hearing what you all have had to say about it. You guys are great.

AN: I do not own Twilight

Epilogue

"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."

~Maya Angelou

BPOV

Almost a year later:

"There. That's done." I had just finished entering the last batch of grades I had into the online grade program. It felt good as I could cross that off my growing list of things to do.

After I had graduated, I started looking for jobs. I applied to just about everywhere but only got a handful of interviews. I was discouraged after my third rejection. It was in the next town over and I had made it to a second interview. I felt I nailed it, but the woman who called me said that they had chosen a person with more experience and wished me luck in the future. It's funny about experience…how was I ever going to gain some if I never got hired. Like I said, discouraging.

About halfway through August I had just about given up. That was until Emmett flew into the diner one day looking like a kid on Christmas.

"Guess what, Bella my Fella." I had played this game with Emmett before. I don't know why. I never, ever guess right.

"You finally bought the marshmallow gun you've been pining over all summer?" It was the only thing I could think of.

"Nope, guess again."

"You've grown a third nipple and are running away to join the circus."

"Now you're just being silly." My jaw dropped in shock.

I'm being silly? Emmett is the king of silly.

"Then why don't you put me out of my misery and just tell me. I do have work to do, you know." I wiped down the counter in front of him to make my point.

"Okay, but you need to sit down. This is epic." After a little huff, I gave in to Emmett and took a seat on a stool. "Heidi's husband took a job in North Carolina and they're moving next week.

Huh?

"O-kay. Who's Heidi?" I said trying to keep up. I had no idea what he was talking about.

"This is the best part. Heidi is one of our high school English teachers. As of today there is officially an opening at Forks High and I told them that you would be perfect for the job. They'll be calling you for an interview." Dumbfounded, I just stared at Emmett and couldn't speak.

A job. At the high school. Teaching English. Holy shit.

"Now would be the time when you squeal, jump up and down, and thank me profusely by hugging the shit out of me." So I did just that.

"Oh my God! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope this didn't put you in an awkward position. You didn't have to recommend me."

"Hey, sometimes to get a foot in the door it's all in who you know. I got my interview because my dad is friends with a school board member. I still had to go in and rock the interview, which I did. And you will too. Just give them some of that Bella awesome charm and they would be a fool not to hire you."

So that's what I tried to do and a week later I was the newest employee of the Forks Central School District.

Yeah me.

As soon as I found out I got right to work. I was at a disadvantage because there were only two weeks of summer left and that was not nearly enough time to plan and get ready for the beginning of the school year. I was in deep shit. Lucky for me, I was given Heidi's schedule of four sections of tenth grade English, one section of an eleventh-twelfth grade elective, and a study hall. Before she left she met with me and gave me everything that she had. I knew that eventually I wanted to incorporate my own material and lessons, but this at least gave me a starting point and something to build on. I was so grateful to her for sharing it with me and we ended up exchanging e-mails so that we could bounce ideas off each other.

The year started off…odd. The first day, my tenth grade classes went off without a hitch. I felt confident in what I was presenting and the students all seemed to be eager to learn. I had one problem with a boy who I quickly put in his place. It was effective in establishing my discipline policy and I didn't have a problem with him or anyone else after that. My elective was a little bit of a different story. It wasn't a mandatory course so I understood why my roster said I only had eight students. It was a little small, but I felt I could work with that. That afternoon, I had been completely caught off guard when twenty-three kids, mostly boys, showed up for class. I was perplexed but didn't question it. I was just glad it was full. It wasn't until later that I found out why. Edward and I were getting ready for bed at the end of that first day. I had explained what had happened and he just chuckled.

"What? Why are you laughing at me?" I said as I turned down the covers of the bed on one side as Edward did the same on the other. This was part of our nightly routine and I loved that we would talk about our day before going to sleep in each other's arms.

"I'm not laughing at you. It's just that…I know why your class filled up. I talked to Emmett." He looked at me sheepishly.

"What does Emmett have to do with this?"

"Nothing, except he heard some boys in the locker room talking about the 'hot new English teacher.' A bunch of them had their schedule switched so they could be in your class. I can't blame them. I would too if it meant I got to see your sexy ass everyday." He emphasized his words by reaching around me,grabbing my ass and pulling me down onto the bed. He slowly started to kiss my neck and usually that's enough to get me really going, but I couldn't get past what he had said.

"They're not taking the class because they love English? They're just…horny?" Edward stopped kissing me because he knew what the tone of my voice meant. He propped his head on his hand and just like always, Edward began to rationalize my irrational thoughts.

"They're teenage boys. Of course they're horny. But don't let why they're taking the class get in the way of you teaching in. Make them love it, Blossom." Edward was right. It didn't matter why they signed up. They were in it now and I was going make sure they left having a better appreciation for English.

"You always know what to say. I love you."

"I love you too." Edward went back to kissing my neck. Much more relaxed, I could enjoy it the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

"I'm going to work their asses off."

"I know you will. Now speaking of asses, get yours over here…" With that he pulled me underneath him and made me forget…well, everything.

o~o~O~o~o

I did work their asses off…hard. After the first month, the students knew my expectations and together we got a lot of work done. Their infatuation of my newness and looks wore off and it was replaced with a mutual respect. They put an honest effort into everything I presented and I in return challenged and supported them in all of their endeavors. I made sure I was there for athletic events, music concerts, and chess team tournaments. I wrote letters of recommendation for college and became shameless when attempting to get their work published. I also encouraged them to venture outside their comfort zone and attend things like poetry readings and plays. I recommended books I think they would like and even went to a midnight showing of Harry Potter with some of them. Not going to lie, I was hurting the next day. I was definitely too old for that.

Spring was winding down and soon another summer would begin. The year had been a good one in many respects. I sighed as I pulled myself out of my memories and closed out my grade program. My elective students would be coming in soon and I wanted to be ready for them. We were ending our Shakespeare unit and I was collecting their final assignment today. All that was left was review for the final exam.

I glanced at the clock and noticed that the kids should have arrived by now. It was a little weird that none of them were in the room yet. I looked at the closed door and wonder if I had locked it by mistake. I crossed the room and was about to reach for the handle when the door opened. Paul was the first to enter.

"Hi, Miss Swan. Sorry I'm late."

"Hi Paul. Don't worry about it. You're the first one here." I smiled warmly at the senior who would be going to Arizona State University next year. He started to head for his seat but then stopped.

"Oh, I got really busy last night and had to finish my homework when we went out to dinner. I couldn't find any paper so I did it on this. I hope that's okay." He handed me up a folded up napkin which I stared at for a few seconds. I was just about to tell him it wasn't but he had already made it up one of the aisles. I began to unfold it.

This I gotta see.

It didn't have his name on it or the assignment I had given them. It had one line on it.

"Hear my soul speak. Of the very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly at your service." ~The Tempest – Act 3 Scene 1

Before I could call Paul back, Embry was at the door. "Hi, Miss Swan. Here's my homework."

Another napkin. With another quote.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." ~A Midsummer Night's Dream – Act 1 Scene 1

One by one the students came in and handed me another napkin.

"Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?" ~As You Like it – Act 3 Scene 5

"Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love." ~ Antony & Cleopatra - Act 3, Scene 5 "A heart to love, and in that heart, courage, to make's love known." ~ Macbeth - Act 2, Scene 3

"This bud of love by summer's ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet." ~ Romeo & Juliet - Act 2, Scene 1

"Love is begun by time, and time qualifies the spark and fire of it." ~ Hamlet – Act 4, Scene 7

When all the students had arrived, I had twenty-three napkins with twenty-three Shakespearean quotes on love. I stared at them in my hands for a few moments trying to understand why they had done this. When the answers didn't come from the napkins, I looked to the students, who were all sitting at their desks with their backs to me. They busied themselves with getting out the things they needed for class and looked relatively normal, except for one thing. They weren't talking to each other…at all. Before I could contemplate that any further, a voice, a little too deep for high school cleared his throat. When I turned my head, the sight before me brought instant tears to my eyes.

Edward.

He was down on one knee just inside the doorway. In one hand there were a bouquet of brightly colored flowers and in the other there was a diamond ring clutched between his thumb and index finger. He was breathtaking. I swallowed hard to try to stop the emotion that was bubbling inside of me.

"Blossom…there are not enough napkins in the world to convey just how much I love you. It would make me the happiest man in the world if you let me be yours forever. Please, Bella, say that you'll marry me."

I felt what he was saying. We had been through so much and at times it wasn't easy, but now…now everything was as it should be. Suddenly I couldn't get the words out fast enough.

"Yes! Yes! I'll marry you." Edward's nervous expression turned into an enormous smile as he stood and picked me up in his arms. I could hear the cheers of my students as Edward swung me around and peppered me with kisses.

"I promise I will be the best husband I can be. For as long as we live, Blossom. You'll never regret saying yes."

In my heart I knew without a doubt he was right.

~The End~

For the last time, thank you for reading and I would love to hear what you think. Some of you have said that you would like to read some outtakes in Edward's POV. I might have a few in me so if there is something you would really like to read, let me know. I'll try to accommodate. Love and kisses until next time!

~Isannah