I know! It's a very late epilogue to the birthday gift to my dearest friend SnoopyLover60! You're the cheese to my cracker, the peanut butter to my jelly, the Ron & Hermione to my Harry! But never a Jacob, Jasper or Alice because we don't like them!

Pre-read by Fyrebyrd and beta'd per usual by Sunflower Fran, the wonderful Sunshine1220 always gives my stuff a peak too! Thanks girls!

Epilogue

Five Years Later

Children's laughter fills the quiet summer afternoon as the family lies on the grass, enjoying the fine weather. Isabella sits on a duvet, her fingers running through her husband's hair as he relaxes with his head on her lap.

He turns and places a kiss on the small bump at her abdomen, causing her to smile down at him.

"Do you wish for a boy or girl," she asks, teasing him.

"I do not care as long as it is only one," he says before two small bodies fall on top of him.

Edward laughs, thinking back to nearly five years ago when his wife went into her confinement.

"Papa! We saw a butterfly. Please come and catch it," four-year-old Esme says excitedly.

She is named after her grandmother who died at Cullen Castle shortly after she was born.

Isabella laughs at her daughter, her wild auburn hair hanging in curls over her head. Green eyes like her father twinkle with mischief.

When Isabella went into her confinement nearly five years ago, she feared Edward would turn to despair at the lack of an heir. Although Edward had been nothing but a doting husband and father since his appalling behavior, she still worried.

It was a fear of hers, knowing if he did behave in such a way again, she would leave and not return, no matter what society or her family thought.

When Esme came into the world screaming, Isabella tried to prepare herself. But when Edward entered the room and saw his daughter in his wife's arms, he was nothing but joyous.

That was until his wife grimaced in pain.

"Papa, please come!" four-year old Riley yells, pulling on his father's other arm.

The miniature replica of Edward jumps to his feet, his green eyes also shinning with joy.

Riley Carlisle Cullen was the happiest of children and unfortunately wrapped around all of his sister's fingers. He came into the world eight minutes after Esme, surprising everyone, including his father who remained in the room in fear of losing his wife.

The doctor tried to convince Edward to leave Isabella, but he simply refused. When the baby entered the world crying, his heart soared with relief.

Thinking it was another girl, he kissed his wife's cheek, stating that their daughter was well. He was surprised when the midwife corrected him, informing them both that they did, indeed, have an heir.

Edward leans over kissing Isabella on her cheek before rising to his feet. "I am off to catch a butterfly, My Lady." He gives her a dramatic bow.

"Be careful, oh, brave knight," Isabella teases him as he follows their children.

With her hands on her abdomen, she smiles broadly thinking over the years. It was not easy for them to return from the dark abyss of Edward's betrayal, but they managed to slowly put the pieces of their lives back together through love and devotion.

Throughout the years, the friendships they once had disappeared to mere acquaintances, including Jacob and Kate. Although she still has regular correspondence with Kate, their friendship is not what it had been when they were girls.

Isabella could not bring herself to be in the same company as Jacob Black after his declaration of love to her. She felt it was a betrayal to her friendship with Kate.

Edward was happy to end all association with the family, as he was not at all fond of Jacob Black.

After serving two years in Debtor's prison, Jasper searched out his old friend for assistance, claiming to have been led astray by the many women in his life. He now wanted to mend their broken friendship.

Edward graciously declined his offer of friendship and wished him good fortune. Alice, on the other hand, had no remorse, living off the kindness of her parents until she found a gentleman protector in an aging Baron who craved company. She and Jasper currently live separate lives, he in London, she in Yorkshire.

"My Lady, the Cheney's have arrived along with your aunt and the young Whitlocks," Fairchild says, looking down at me.

"Oh, wonderful. Do help me up will you, Fairchild?" Isabella asks, offering her hand to the older man.

"With pleasure." He takes her hand in assistance.

When she stands, Angela, Benjamin, and their three children exit the house, followed by her Aunt Agnes, along with Alice's two boys.

"Aunt Isabella!" the children yell, all coming to greet her.

She affectionately receives each one before they run off to play with her children.

"The table is set for our picnic, and we also have blankets." Isabella waves her hand toward the lawn.

"Cheney, there you are," Edward says, walking up to the gentleman. "I promised the children a game of chase once you all arrived."

"Splendid!" Benjamin yells, picking up one of his sons and running toward Edward.

The ladies gather around the table, smiling as the children chase the men around the large estate.

"My sister has made a spectacle of herself again," Angela says before sipping her tea.

"Angela! We must not discuss such things." Mrs. Brandon gives her daughter a glare.

"Why ever not? Isabella is family and has paid for Alice's treachery in the past." Angela looks over to her cousin.

"What has happened? Surely she can't get into any trouble as Mr. Ford's companion." Isabella eyes both women.

"One would have thought," her aunt says ominously.

Angela sits forward, giddy as a child with the largest treat. "Mr. Ford has set Alice aside after finding out she is with child by one of his footman!"

"Oh dear," Isabella says wide-eyed.

"It's a disgrace! It is one thing for us to have to live with her and Jasper's shame, then for her to become … what she has become, to go lower by being with child again, and by a footman! Upon my word, it is not to be born!" Agnes Brandon rocks back and forth, trying to soothe herself.

"Mama, please do not have another fainting spell" Angela tries to comfort her. "Alice has chosen her path-"

"The scandal will ruin us all!" Agnes says, fanning herself dramatically.

"Another one will come around that will soon have everyone forgetting this one." Isabella squeezes her aunt's free hand in support.

"I do hope you're right, dear." Her aunt takes a sip of her tea. "I have written for your mother to come to Yorkshire at her earliest convenience."

"What a wonderful idea, and she can stay for this little one's arrival," Isabella says, placing her hand affectionately on her abdomen.

"Help, Mama!" six-year-old Clara screams, running into Isabella's lap as Edward chases her.

"Oh my darling, I will save you." Isabella takes her daughter, wrapping her in her arms.

"Very well, I shall have you both," Edward says, laying his body around his wife and daughter, causing them both to laugh with glee.

He presses his lips to Isabella's neck, causing her to protest in horror at his affection until she finally releases Clara, who takes off running from her father.

She watches her family run around the vast lawn, with nothing but happiness surrounding them.

20 Years Later

Isabella sits staring at her husband, dread filling her as she waits for him to leave this world. Her hand holds his, her eyes fixed on his chest as it rises and falls. Edward's health has been on a rapid decline for a year, and after a long-fought battle, his body is finally ready to leave the earth.

After thirty-three years of marriage, Isabella is not ready to say good-bye to her husband. He was her best friend and confidant, and although things were never as bad as when Edward strayed, they still had their occasional disagreement.

Most of their rows were over the children and the decisions they made in their lives as they became older.

Edward was absolutely livid when Percy Whitlock offered for their eldest daughter, Eliza's hand. It was clear Percy was not like either one of his parents, but it was still difficult for Edward to allow his little girl to marry into a family that had purposely worked on the destruction of his own.

Their relationship developed over the years after growing up as close confidants. That bond was solidified when both Whitlock boys came to stay with the Cullen's after their grandmother's death.

In the end, Edward realized that the young couple was madly in love and allowed the union. They were now married with three children of their own. Percy is a vicar, and they live a wonderful life without any contact with Jasper or Alice.

Angela and Benjamin loved their nephews. However, they did not have the funds to provide for two boys as well as their own family. Jasper could not afford his children as he was living a life of squalor in the bowels of London.

Alice went from one gentleman provider to another, having two more children and abandoning them to their fathers. Ultimately, she settled upon living the life of a courtesan, choosing herself over her children.

When Charlotte decided she would never marry and would rather spend her life teaching young girls and fighting for women's suffrage, Edward supported their daughter wholeheartedly. Isabella was not happy at all; she worried Charlotte would regret never marrying or becoming a mother. In the end, she realized her daughter was content following her chosen path; one that led her to a fellow teacher and suffrage supporter, Nathaniel. They have one daughter who happily marches beside her parents.

Both Clara and Esme, however, never caused their parents to quarrel. Clara married an Earl, falling madly in love and two beautiful wild children. Esme married a solicitor, Maxwell, and they live in London and is expecting their first child.

Edward and Isabella disputed over their son Riley's happiness. As heir, Edward wanted him to marry and settle down so he could continue the Cullen name. Isabella reminded him those were the same thoughts that caused him to stray in their marriage. In the end, Riley is a happy bachelor but is currently courting a lovely young lady named Margaret.

Their last child, Robert, was an adventurer and caused many quarrels between his parents. When he decided he wanted to explore the world at only seventeen, Isabella was upset that her youngest was going to be far away from home, whereas Edward was livid he wasn't choosing a career path as a solicitor. Edward had arranged for Robert to be under the tutelage of the estate's current solicitor, but in the end, it was decided that the best thing was for him to follow his dreams.

He returned from Spain last month at the request of his mother so the entire family could be at Cullen Palace.

A squeeze to her hand takes her out of her thoughts, and she looks up into the green eyes of her husband.

"You need to rest, darling," he says, his voice raspy from lack of use and weakness.

Shaking her head, she gives him a watery smile. "I want to be here …" Isabella is unable to finish her sentence.

The doctor had informed the family that Edward did not have long to live and would not last the week. His overall health and energy had deteriorated before her eyes, and she knew the end was near.

She turns to the maid who sits stoically at the door. "Can you please gather the children?" she asks with a soft smile.

The maid nods, leaving Isabella alone with her husband.

Edward gives his wife a gentle smile. After all these years, she still refers to their adult brood as children.

His weary eyes trace her beautiful face. Even with lines of old age, she is still the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Memories of their life together take over and regret at the horrible crime he committed against their marriage again fills his very being.

"Thank you," he whispers, causing her to look at him in question.

"For what, my love?" she asks before lifting up his hand and placing a kiss on his knuckles.

"For forgiving me … all those years ago." Tears well up in his eyes as the words come out slower, his breath becoming shallower.

Isabella shakes her head vehemently. "It has long been forgiven." She chuckles as she remembers a far away memory. "I did not understand it then, but when we were going through our trial, my mother said one day I would look back on that time in our life and appreciate the pain it caused. I did not think she was correct, but I do now, Edward. All that pain guided us to what we became and led us to our wonderful life, and I would never change it for the world."

She leans over, pressing a kiss to his lips. Weakly, he lifts his hand to caress her face, their eyes locking. Their love surrounds them, the years disappearing, and at that moment, they are the young lord and lady that met over thirty years ago at a dinner party.

A knock on the door interrupts their moment, and Isabella turns to see all of their children, as well as the two Whitlock men enter. Edward's hand slowly falls as his fingertips graze her face, and he closes his eyes one last time.

Isabella turns to find her husband gone, and she gently lays her head on his chest as the children realize their father has slipped away.

Aware of the activity surrounding her, Isabella does not move, her tears falling freely as she mourns the love of her life.

They may have fallen from Grace, but they rose from it stronger … Together.

A/N: I know. I'm an awful awful person! I basically didn't write it then I wrote it and finished it and didn't post. So I apologize, and if I ever make you all wait this long for a chapter or epilogue again someone come beat me or send Snooplover60 or Fyrebyrd those two enjoy whipping me into shape! I hope you all don't mind I killed Edward, he was old and happy and that's the important thing here. Thanks for reading me no matter what! Something new will be in the babies at the border compilation, so you should definitely donate to receive it!