Earlier in the story, when replying to reviews, I would mention that Mike wasn't stupid. This was the original end to Bella's funeral. By this point, Edward has read the letter in which Bella confesses her love and her plan to be with Edward once she has properly ended things with Mike.

Edward waits on the dark porch for Mike's return. Edward read enough of his thoughts at the funeral to know that Mike had been far more observant than anyone had given him credit for. He'd paid attention to every dog joke share between Bella and Jacob. He'd done his own research and come to his own conclusions.

Mike's car pulls up, illuminating Edward briefly before he cuts the engine and gets out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

"You know, you being here doesn't make this any easier." Mike doesn't bother with formalities.

"I'm sorry."

Mike sniffs, and Edward can smell the tears. He can hear Mike willing himself not to cry in front of him. "I just wanted you to know that I left. I left because she asked me to, not because I wanted to go. She loved you very much." Edward steps off the porch, moving closer to Mike. This is a conversation for whispers.

"Yeah, all of you are sorry. But not really, are you? In the end, you got what you wanted."

Edward pauses a moment to deliberate how much he should reveal. "What happened, none of us saw coming. There's nothing we could do to change the outcome."

"But you did, didn't you?"

"Yes and no. She wasn't going to survive. We couldn't change that."

Mike looks away from Edward, a million questions racing through his mind before he settles on two.

"Could you bring her around one day? You think she'll remember me?"

"I don't know if we can. It may be a while before she's... We don't know how this is going to work out, yet. She should remember you, though. If not, I'll tell her-"

"Don't. I know she loved me." Mike's voice breaks, but he continues. "She's a… was a... good person. She'll keep that, right?"

"She should. We'll be there to guide her."

"If she doesn't remember me, don't tell her. I think she has a chance to be happy. I don't want her to feel any guilt about me. If she does, don't let her. Tell her I was already thinking about someone else."

"But you're not."

"No, I'm not."

The two are silent. Edward tries to stay out of Mike's head as he reminisces on happy times they shared.

"Thank you. I know you don't want to hear it, but thank you. I broke her, and you put her back together again. Your love made her confident and strong; you made her better. I'm truly sorry that‒" Now Edward's voice is breaking as he struggles to find words. "She was very happy with you. I'm sorry."

"Just love her like she deserves this time." Mike turns away to enter the house.

"The adoption still goes through," Edward reveals. Edward thinks Mike needs something to hold on to, because his thoughts have taken a darker turn. Edward tells him the rest of what Alice had seen. He's going to join a widow support group. There will be a woman his age there who lost her husband in a motorcycle accident. They'll resist it at first, but slowly, they'll fall in love. He'll be a dad again to two girls and a son.

Mike stops with Edward's news but doesn't turn around.