AN: We've come to the end. This was never meant to be a long story. I just wanted to write something short, fluffy, and light. I really didn't plan to have so many HP references, but it kind of took on a life of its own. I hope you enjoyed it, despite the spoilers.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
To: MusicMan26
From: Bookworm07
Subject: Kicks
I'm pretty sure our daughter is going to be the first female punter for the Forks High football team.
To: Bookworm07
From: MusicMan26
Subject: Hey Now
Don't be picking on my girl.
To: MusicMan26
From: Bookworm07
Subject: Your girl
Your girl needs to quit kicking the shit out of my ribs.
To: Bookworm07
From: MusicMan26
Subject: Language
Mrs. Cullen, you never curse. I'm shocked!
To: MusicMan26
From: Bookworm07
Subject: Sorry
I really love her. I just wish she'd come already.
To: Bookworm07
From: MusicMan26
Subject: Me too
I know, baby. So do I.
We'll have a lazy weekend at home. Will that make it better?
To: MusicMan26
From: Bookworm07
Subject: Maybe
Especially if a movie and popcorn are involved.
I love you.
To: Bookworm07
From: MusicMan26
Subject: You got it
Anything for my girls.
I love you, too.
Maternity leave was the pits, especially when the reason you're on leave has yet to make her appearance.
Our daughter was officially a week overdue.
The doctor kept telling me to be patient. Her weight was normal and the sonograms were perfect. She was just taking her time.
I took it as a personal insult.
Didn't she want to meet her mommy?
Edward was patient as ever and taking it all in stride. He was completely in love with his daughter and had treated me like a goddess since the moment we found out that we were expecting. Truthfully, he'd always treated me that way, but the adoration had multiplied when he realized I was carrying his child.
Everything was ready. The nursery was finally complete now that the art class had finished painting the Hogwarts mural on the baby's bedroom wall. That had been Edward's idea since we were pretty that sure she'd been conceived during one of the many nights I'd worn the Hermione costume to bed. Most guys liked negligées, but not my husband. He wanted that plaid skirt and those knee-socks.
The blouse and tie were now optional.
Our professional lives were just as wonderful. My library had been expanded thanks to a technology grant. We now had a multimedia center complete with state-of-the-art computers and Promethean boards that allowed us to web conference with schools around the nation. Edward had been offered several prestigious jobs and had even been recruited by the University of Washington to teach music on their Seattle campus.
He'd politely declined all offers. He was happy in Forks.
He was happy with me.
After we were married, we designed our dream house and, despite the rain, the contractor had managed to complete it on schedule. It had everything we could ever want, including a library which held Edward's favorite piano and the love seat on which we'd finally read all of the books in the Harry Potter series. We'd now moved on to Tolkien, and while his use of language drove me batty, I endured it because that's what you do when you love someone. Also in the library was a small shelf full of children's books, just ready and waiting for Molly's little hands.
Yes, our daughter's name was Molly. Edward always did have a soft spot for Mrs. Weasley.
Despite the happiness in my life, I was crabby.
And bored.
And big.
So big.
I placed my hand over my protruding belly and sighed.
"Where are my girls?" Edward yelled from the doorway, as if I wasn't planted in the same place each day when he came from work. But he was so happy, and his joy was contagious.
"Hi, baby," Edward smiled as he walked into the bedroom. He was holding a gift bag with balloons attached. He climbed in next to me on the bed and kissed me softly before placing the bag in my lap.
"A gift from Jessica Stanley," he smirked.
"You're kidding," I replied, wide-eyed. "I bet she just wanted an excuse to see you."
"Nope," Edward replied as I reached down into the bag, throwing the brightly colored gift tissue onto the bed. "She gave it to Rosalie who gave it to Emmett who passed it on to me."
"I miss Rose and Em."
"They miss you, too. Rose said they'd come by Sunday for dinner if you were up for it."
"That'd be nice," I nodded as I pulled the baby blanket from the bag. "Oh, this is so soft!"
"I know. I peeked earlier," Edward grinned. "That was really nice of her."
"It was."
"So," he said softly, lifting my shirt and placing a sweet kiss along my gigantic stomach. "How's my baby girl today?"
"Energetic," I mumbled tiredly. "I'm pretty sure she cracked a rib."
I ran my fingers through his hair as he told Molly all about his day at school. It was our little daily ritual, and I loved it.
"And then Daddy caught Henry and Carrie making out in Mommy and Daddy's corner in the library."
I gasped softly.
"Don't tell her that! Wait…my Carrie was making out with the quarterback of the football team?"
"Yep."
"Good for her," I smiled.
"That's what I told them," Edward chuckled. "But I also told them to stay out of our corner. That's our hiding spot."
"If I ever get back to work," I muttered, shifting on the bed and trying to get comfortable. It was impossible.
"Are you too miserable to watch a movie with me?"
"Can we watch Goblet of Fire?" I asked sheepishly.
Edward sighed heavily but climbed off the bed and popped the DVD into the player. Snuggling beneath the blanket, I laid my head against his shoulder. I'd nearly dozed off, but then Dumbledore announced Cedric Diggory's name, and my eyes flew open.
So pretty.
"I still say he looks like you," I said sleepily.
"He does not."
Nestled in Edward's arms, I was finally comfortable for the first time all day when suddenly, I felt a slight tingling and a small amount of pressure in my lower back.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked, his voice laced with concern. He knew me so well.
"I think I just need to pee," I explained, struggling to my feet and padding toward the bathroom.
I felt it then, and I stopped in my tracks.
"Bella?"
I looked down, then back into the wide, fearful eyes of my loving husband, and I smiled.
"My water just broke."
And from that moment on, our life was never the same.
It was unbelievably better.
~The End~
I have just completed my 30th story! Holy crap. Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews, recs, and PMs. It's very important that we encourage the writers we love, and I am blessed to have your support.
Thank you, as always, to my beta, Shaina and to my pre-readers, Katmom and Krista. They take my words and make them look so pretty. Thanks, also, to Heather Dawn for making the pretty banner for this story.
This is my last full-length story for a while. In case you missed the reason why, that news in on my blog. I will be writing one-shots from time to time because I would just miss you guys too much. I am writing for Fandom4Texas, Fandom Gives Back, and for the Totally 80s contest, so be sure to put me on alert so that you don't miss those. I find inspiration in the strangest of places, so you never know when I might post something. Remember, if you want to donate to the charities, that info is on my blog and on my profile.
Blog: sydneyalice5(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Twitter: Sydney_Alice
Hugs and Kisses,
SydneyAlice