My sincerest apologies for the length of time it took to get this epi out. RL got a bit crazy. This semester kicked my butt. Thank God it's almost over. That coupled with a few other issues made me put ff on the back burner for a bit but I always finish my stories. Even if it takes a little longer than anticipated. Enough from me, I'll let you get on with it now.

Epilogue

EPOV

Married life was amazing. Sure, logistically, life wasn't all that different from the way it had been just before the wedding. However, knowing that she was legally bound to me and me to her meant the world. The last thing I ever expected was the ability to fall even more in love with a girl I'd known for decades. I didn't think it was possible but it was and every day, my love for her grew.

Time flew by and before I knew it, my birthday had arrived. Last year I'd been given the best gift in the world by finally admitting my love for Bella and receiving her love in return. Nothing was going to top that and so I'd told Bella that I didn't need any gifts. All I wanted was her, naked in our bed.

My girl was not one for listening though. She hated her own birthday but loved to spoil other people on theirs. It was summer and so she'd complied with my birthday request, spending the entire day in bed with me. However, she slipped away in the afternoon and began cooking in the kitchen, wearing only a teeny pair of shorts and a tank top under an apron. She made me a delicious dinner and a red velvet cake, reminding me that I was, indeed, the luckiest bastard to ever walk the planet.

After dinner, she lit the candles on my cake and sang Happy Birthday to me softly. I blew out the candles in one breath and then noticed my girl grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"What did you do?" I asked suspiciously.

She reached behind her back and pulled out a small envelope which she handed to me. "Your talent should be shared," she said quietly, handing me the envelope which had a return address of a company in Los Angeles, California.

I opened it carefully and pulled out the letter inside. It was from an agent, expressing interest in my composing work and wanting to sign with me even listing a few jobs that they believed I might be perfect for. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I recognized a few of the producers and directors mentioned. Sure, there was no Spielberg or Scorsese on the list but these were real movies and tv shows, not student or miniscule art house films like I'd done in the past.

"Is this for real?" I breathed, reading and re-reading the letter a million times. "I mean…how?"

"Don't get mad," she began, "but I made a few copies of our song, the one you composed for me. I sent that and some samples of your video game work to a few agencies. I knew someone would love it. You're too talented for them not to, but I still kept it a secret. I knew you might get mad, or worse, get your hopes up. But I was right, Edward. They love you and they want to sign you. You can do movies like you always wanted."

The little boy part of me was jumping up and down but the more practical side of me had my mind going a million miles a minute. "Baby, they're in California. They'll want to meet with me. That means a lot of travel. They may even want me to move there."

"Then we move," she replied nonchalantly.

"But your job!"

"Edward, I'm a teacher and I'm pretty sure they have kids and schools in California. I can work anywhere."

"Our families are here," I pointed out but she just laughed at me.

"That's what planes and email and skype are for. E, stop talking yourself out of this. It's been your dream forever and here's your shot. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right along with you and your family will be supportive as well. So, sit your ass down and call that agency."

It was a Saturday so I made a promise to call first thing Monday morning. Once I did, everything in my life seemed to speed up. Suddenly I was flying to LA and meeting with agents who eventually talked me into signing with them. Within a month, I'd been selected for a small movie project. It wasn't a blockbuster or anything but it was a real movie, with a widespread theatrical release and actors whose names I recognized attached. It was something to get my name out there and that was more then I'd ever hoped for. Since I'd be spending a good deal of time in California, Bella and I decided to pack up our little home and move.

I'd signed in mid-July and by the end of August, we were house hunting in the suburbs surrounding Los Angeles. Since we moved on somewhat short notice, Bella decided to take the school year off. It allowed her time to get her teaching license in order and to take her time in searching for a new job. I composed most of the music at home, only going in to discuss my ideas with the big wigs and eventually, to record. That was a new experience. Some of the bigger games I worked on, recorded with a decent sized band or orchestra but nothing like what I had at my disposal now. The first day I walked in and saw the full orchestra sitting there, tuning their instruments and awaiting my instruction was truly surreal. I came home that day so pumped up on adrenaline and excitement that I pounced on Bella and we made love until the sun came up.

As our first anniversary approached, I decided that I wanted to do something special. I was living my dream because of Bella and she'd moved away from her family, friends and job to support me. So, I wanted to spoil her. Since we moved, Bella occasionally mentioned wanting to take a drive up and visit San Francisco but I was working so hard that we never made the time. I made the arrangements secretly and kept it to myself until the day before. When we discussed our anniversary I would tell her that I just made reservations at some restaurant in the city and she seemed pleased with that as I knew she would be. My girl was the furthest thing from high-maintenance. She squealed in delight when I told her, launching her into my arms.

"So, I guess I did ok?" I asked teasingly as I set her back on her feet.

There was a glint of mischief in her eyes as she smiled at me. "Well, I don't know if you can top my present, but this is pretty damn close."

We left early the next morning and drove up the coast. We hit up all the touristy spots that Bella wanted to see including the bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, and Lombard Street. We rode on a cable car and then headed to dinner at one of the little restaurants overlooking the ocean. The entire day was perfect. Even the weather cooperated with blue skies and cool temps.

"Shall we begin with a bit of champagne?" I asked, perusing the menu. "Toast to our first year of marriage?"

"Um, I'm thinking maybe just a bit of sparkling water for me," she replied hesitantly.

My head sprung up from the menu and my eyes snapped to meet hers. Bella never turned down an opportunity for champagne. "You feeling ok, love?"

"I'm fine," she said softly, as a smile began slowly spreading across her face. "It just wouldn't be good for the baby."

Everything around me seemed to poof out of existence in that moment. I developed tunnel vision and nothing else existed but Bella as my mind tried to process her last sentence. "The baby?"

"Mm-hmm," she confirmed, studying my face intently, trying to gauge my reaction.

"Our baby?"

"Who else's would it be?" she snickered, forcing me to realize what a ridiculous question that had been. It appeared that my brain had completely turned to mush. I couldn't form any coherent thoughts.

"We're having a baby?" I breathed.

"In June. I'm only about six weeks. I just found out a few days ago."

My mental faculties were beginning to come back to me and I did a few calculations, speaking aloud as I worked through this. "Your birthday, the antibiotics!" I cried.

A couple of weeks before Bella's birthday, she'd come down with this awful respiratory infection. The doctor had put her on antibiotics to help clear it up and he'd warned us that they could interact with her birth control pills. I'd offered to buy some condoms but Bella had vetoed that idea, saying that whatever happened, happened. We'd been going back and forth on when we wanted to expand our family and I'd taken it as a baby step along that road, a way to play with the idea but with only an outside chance of anything actually happening. Though apparently, an outside chance is all you need. After two weeks of feeling like shit, Bella had finally felt human again just in time for her birthday and we celebrated by spending that day in bed, making up for lost time. I'd have to wait for the doctor to confirm but I knew in my gut that her birthday was the day we made a baby.

"Yep," she replied sheepishly. "I guess whatever happened. Are you ok with this? I mean we knew there was a possibility. I just never expected it to actually happen but now that it has…"

She was rambling nervously now so I reached across the table and took her hands in mine. "Stop, Bella. Are you kidding me? I am thrilled."

"Really? I thought you would be but then you seemed really, really surprised and I just started to freak out a bit because it's not like it's something we can take back."

"Baby, relax, I was surprised but it's a good surprise. I'm so fucking excited that my brain literally shut down for a moment there."

"So, you're not mad?"

I was taken aback by her question. "Of course not. I knew there was a chance. Ok, I forgot there was a chance but that doesn't change the fact that I agreed to take it. I'm ready for this. I'm not mad, I'm thrilled. We're having a baby!"

At that, I rose from my chair and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tight. The people around us began to stare but I didn't care. I was the happiest man on the planet. "We're having a baby!" I repeated loudly, crying out for all to hear. "She's having my baby!"

There was a small round of applause and the waiter brought out a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling cider for us to toast our news. The patrons that were seating around us leaned in and offered us their heartfelt congratulations and quite a few that were seated further away made a point of stopping by our table and doing the same. It was an unexpected outpouring of love from this metropolitan community and only added to natural high I was feeling. It was a moment I would remember for the rest of my life.

Over dinner we agreed to wait until after the first trimester to tell the rest of the family. The timing was perfect as Bella reached twelve weeks right around Thanksgiving. We had our first doctor appointment a week after our anniversary trip and that gave us the supreme joy of seeing our baby for the very first time. It looked a bit like a lima bean but there was a flickering there that changed my life forever. Our baby's heartbeat. The little whoosh whoosh sound became the new soundtrack of my life.

We had another appointment just before we flew back home to spend Thanksgiving with our family. It was a little less exciting than our first visit but once again, we heard the reassuring sound of the whoosh whoosh of our baby's heartbeat through the small Doppler instrument. The doctor assured us that everything was perfect and wished us a happy trip home.

Bella and I had discussed the timing of our announcement at great lengths but neither of us realized how difficult it would be once face to face with our parents again. Thankfully, tales of our new life in California and my work in the movies kept the conversation flowing and enabled us to wait on our big news until dinner was over and our whole family was convened in my parent's living room.

"I know Christmas is coming up but we brought you guys a little something from LA."

"Oh sweetheart, you didn't need to do that!" my mom exclaimed as similar protests rose from the rest of our parents.

"They're the same so you should open them at the same time," I added, handing a small package to each set of parents.

Our folks each glanced at the other before pulling at the wrapping paper. Renee was the quickest and her gasp silenced the entire room. Bella and I had found these small silver picture frames at a baby store emblazoned with the words. 'I love my Grandma and Grandpa'. In the frame we had inserted a copy of our first ultrasound, our little lima bean.

It took a surprisingly long time for the reality of the situation to sink in for our parents, especially considering that one of the four was a physician and therefore, should have been fairly familiar with a sonogram image. When it did there were two loud gasps from both of our mothers and then it seemed like everyone dissolved into tears. Renee and my mother both jumped to their feet and embraced Bella tightly. My dad wiped a single tear from the corner of his eye before pulling me in for a hug.

"Congratulations, son. I couldn't be more excited for the two of you and the journey you're about to embark on," he said quietly before releasing me.

Over my dad's shoulder, I noticed Charlie's eyes were uncharacteristically moist before he took a deep breath through his nose and shook his head as if shaking off the emotion of the moment. Once I was released from my father's arms, he stood, clasped me on the shoulder and shook my hand as he looked me straight in the eye. Instinctively, I panicked. Yes, the man had given me his blessing to marry his daughter, but now I had just handed him concrete proof that I had carnal knowledge of that daughter. I'd never been more scared of Charlie Swan in my life.

"I couldn't think of a better man to raise my grandchild, Edward" he said gruffly. "Congratulations."

"Uh, thank you," I stammered in surprise, thankful that apparently he was going to let me survive to raise said grandchild.

Once the future grandparents had their say, the rest of the family joined in, offering congrats, advice, and showering my wife and me with love. It was too early to know whether we were having a son or daughter but it didn't matter, because in the instant I knew that our child would be the luckiest little guy or girl in the world. He or she would have more love and support than they could ever ask for and I took comfort in the knowledge that if anything happened to myself or Bella that our family would be there.

As it turned out, all of our family was there when little Benjamin Mason Cullen made his entrance into the world. Both of our mothers arranged to arrive two weeks before Bella's due date to ensure they were here for the birth. As we neared that date, more family members trickled in with Emmett and Rosalie arriving last, half a week after the due date. They'd timed their visit with the assumption that the baby would be here by then but it was four days later, a week and a day overdue, that our Benjamin decided to finally arrive.

The doctor had warned us that because he was our first, he might go a little over his due date but my poor wife had never expected to go more than a week over just as the southern California summer was getting well underway. Even with most of our family close by, Bella was constantly begging me for sex, not because she necessarily wanted it in her condition but because the doctor had mentioned that it might trigger labor. Obviously I had no problem giving into her demands, she was gorgeous no matter how round and full her belly was, but I'm not sure it did any good as our Ben waited until the very early hours of Father's Day to make his appearance.

From the moment I laid eyes on him he was the light of my life, my pride and joy. He grew into a solid boy, clearly inheriting some of his Uncle Emmett's genes, with Bella's brown hair and my green eyes. Two years later he was joined by his little brother, Anthony Joseph who we called AJ. The two of them kept us on our toes, always getting into mischief and causing a ruckus but we loved them all the same.

My love for Bella only grew with each anniversary that passed. She was an amazing mother with the patience of a saint. The first movie I scored had done ok and had paid enough for our family to live comfortably for a while but more importantly, it led to more work. This allowed Bella to stay home with our boys. It was a choice she made on her own. I knew that James had expected her to stay home with any children they had and I wasn't about to make that decision for her. All I could do was offer her a choice. When Benjamin was born I told her that I could take care of our family if she wanted to stay home and that I would support her one hundred percent if she wanted to return to work when the school year began. As it turned out, she couldn't bear the idea of leaving our boy for so long during the day.

"I can always go back when he's bigger, right?" she asked me one night in a fit of insecurity. "Staying home with my baby doesn't make me a Stepford wife or anything, does it?"

Fucking James! For the most part, that jackass and his impact on Bella had passed, but every once in a while the damage he'd done to my girl would rear its ugly head.

"Baby, thanks to you we are blessed. You sent my music out when I didn't have the confidence to and it's because of you that I can afford to support our family. If you want to work that is ok with me. It's your choice and I do a lot of work from home. So if you're worried about putting him in daycare all day then we can work around it. I can compose in the evening or something. Whatever, you're worried about, we'll work through it and figure out something we're both comfortable with. However, if you do want to stay home with him, then stay home. Not because it's what he would have wanted but because it's what you want. What is it that you want, my love?"

"I want to stay home with my baby," she whispered. "At least for now."

"Ok then that's what we do and if you change your mind, just let me know and we'll make a new plan."

When Ben was seven and AJ was nearing five, Bella began to consider returning to work. The boys were older, we'd established a good routine and found our footing as parents. Life was calming down for us.

"Kindergarten is only half day," Bella mused over dinner one evening, "and you've got that big project coming up, so maybe I can take this year to get back into that teacher mindset. I can make sure my license is good and that I'm up to date on everything so I can go back when AJ starts first grade."

"Sounds good to me, love," I'd said, not realizing that our calm life was about to become anything but.

Just a few weeks after that conversation, Bella found out that she was expecting once more. It wasn't planned, Bella was on the pill, but as we'd found out once before, nothing but abstinence was one hundred percent and we were anything but abstinent. It wasn't just a surprise pregnancy that threw our life into a whirlwind though. My 'big project' ended up being a critically acclaimed blockbuster and suddenly words like 'Oscar contender' began being thrown around with my name.

The next few months were a whirlwind of doctor's appointments as we learned Bella was pregnant with twin girls due in the middle of May. Thankfully, she and our girls were healthy and growing right on track because soon after the first of the year, my name was officially thrown into all the major awards rings. When I won the Golden Globe I'd been in shock and only the sight of my best friend in the audience kept me calm enough to make it through my speech. Then I was awoken at an ungodly hour by my wife who, even with her burgeoning belly, managed to jump up and down on the bed excitedly exclaiming that I'd actually been nominated for that Oscar that they'd been calling me a 'contender' for.

The birth of my children and my wedding day with Bella would always remain the momentous moments of my life but after that came the moment I heard my name called during that Oscar ceremony. My gorgeous wife was there holding my hand with on hand while her other cradled the babies growing in her belly. "You did it, baby!" she whispered as she hugged me tight before letting me take that walk to the stage.

Once there it was a blur of congratulations and kisses on my cheek before I stood in front of a massive audience, blinding lights and cameras signifying the millions of people watching at home.

"Wow," I exclaimed, holding that golden statue in my hand as I searched the crowd for Bella's face. I found her quickly and my breathing steadied. "First of all, being on this stage is just unreal. The truth is, I wouldn't be here without the prodding of my best friend of more than twenty years who I am now blessed enough to call my wife. She is my strength, my inspiration, and the person who forced me to really follow my dreams of film composition. Without her I would be alone in Seattle, still making music for video games and not realizing my potential. "Thank you, baby," I directed to Bella personally, "for being my best friend, for taking a chance on us, for believing in me and for forcing me to take a chance and follow my dreams. I would be nothing without you. Thank you."

The music began to play and I exited the stage before realizing I hadn't thanked my agent, my parents or anyone else. Hopefully, I could chalk that up to nerves but in reality, my speech had been dead on. It was one hundred percent Bella that had forced the move to California and into the movies. She was the one that mattered and judging by the way she clasped my hand when I returned to my seat, I'd done the right thing. She accepted my thank you the moment we returned home and throughout that evening.

Two months later, we welcomed our last two children into the world, twin girls Emily and Elizabeth. Everything fell into place after that. I continued working and was lucky enough to be nominated a few more times over the years and even won a couple more. Bella stayed home a little longer with the girls before returning to teach in a local elementary school. We watched our children learn and grow with each passing year.

It wasn't until the girls were nine years old and in third grade that we heard the words I'd feared since the day my daughters were born.

"Mommy, daddy, guess what? We got a new boy in our class and he's really nice," little Emily exclaimed upon exiting her bus one day. "I think we're going to be best friends," she continued. "His name is Sam!"

Bella looked at me, her eyebrows raised high as a smirk danced across her lips. She was struggling to keep from laughing at the situation which seemed so familiar to the both of us. My wife knew that I'd struggle more with this declaration than she would. The girls were Daddy's girls and I had been more than happy with that. She knew I wouldn't take lightly to the idea of another male stepping into that place in either of their lives. However, she'd discounted the way I'd thought about her for all those years. If I could give anything to my girls, it would be a partner who loved them for them and would love them no matter what. It was the way I'd loved their mother for as long as I could remember. To Bella's surprise, I plastered a smile on my face and beamed at my little girl.

"That's wonderful, sweetie," I exclaimed, "I made a best friend at your age and it was the best thing that I ever did!"

"Really,' she cried, "even better than all your statues?"

"Oh baby," I replied, pulling the small girl into my arms. "I'd give them all back before I let go of my best friend."

I saw Bella smile at me across the den as she wiped a couple tears from her eyes and nodded in acceptance of my little speech. It wasn't a lie. Meeting that tiny girl with dark hair and chocolate eyes had changed my life immeasurably. How could I not hope for the same for my children?

Well, that's all folks. I love these two and I'm so happy that so many of you seemed to enjoy them too. Thank you so much for reading my little story!