Here it is, the final chapter. This chapter has a different kind of feel to it and alternates POVs like Secrets. I hope wewe all like it.

*Stephanie
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Chapter 20: All’s well that ends well
(Bella)
I felt so relieved the fight was over. My family was back to being whole without all the awali emotional complications.

Kasie and Michelle went back nyumbani as soon as everything was settled and they were debriefed kwa Tanya who was still leery about their knowing our secret. Renesmee and Jacob informed us upon dropping each of them off that they zaidi than ecstatic to embrace their mothers again; nothing like nearly being abducted to open your eyes to what’s right in front of you.

Our cousins returned to Denali a short while later, promising their inayofuata visit would be a long one that consisted of fun rather than terror. This, of course, is something we are looking very mbele to.

Renesmee returned to school the siku after the fight. It was funny, she acted like nothing happened.

Now it’s been two weeks and I have come to realize something did happen. She grew up. At some point within the last few weeks she ceased to be my little girl. The baby I protected from not only the Volturi but her own father as well as the rest of the family. She was a big girl now, a grown up, and I wish I hadn’t blinked.

It didn’t matter how much room I had in my mind, I couldn’t quite find the connection between today and last week, au today and last year. It was like everything happened way too fast. Either that au I was stuck in some kind of high paced tunnel that made everything around me a blur. In a weird way, that was okay. I could see all of my time with Edward, the laughter, the pain, yet I couldn’t see Renesmee as clearly. It was like she was, in a way, in her own little world. I guess that’s what happens when you’re unique. wewe fall into patterns no one else can.

The thing is she’s like me in so many ways. I suppose I didn’t have her locked into my mind the way I had Edward there because every time I looked at her I saw myself. She was stubborn, rebellious, willing to give up everything she had for the people she loved.


(Renesmee)
“Hey!” I exclaimed as Alice tugged on a piece of my hair.

“Well if you’d hold still I wouldn’t have to harm wewe would I?” She replied with a smirk, staring at my frustrated scowl in the mirror.

“You shouldn’t harm me anyway.”

“I have to get my point across don’t I?”

I sighed, “Is all this really necessary?”

“You want to look pretty don’t you?” She asked, twisting the hair then pinning it to the back of my head.

“Jacob always thinks I’m pretty.”

“Yes, well Mbwa mwitu loups aren’t the best judges of fashion.”

I grimaced, watching her work.

“Seriously, you’ve seen what they wear. Sweatpants. As cute as a pair of sweats can be at bedtime au during a workout session; they are definitely not proper siku wear.”

“Leah dresses nicely.”

“On occasion, yes. But lately, she’s been going a little down hill.”

“Watch it. That’s my aunt you’re talking about.”

“Aunts are allowed to talk about aunts. It’s a rule.”

“Liar,” I smiled.

She laughed, holding my shoulders and bending down so her face was beside mine. “You’re a lot easier to clean up when wewe hold still.”

“I’m done?”

“What do wewe think?” She took a step back, placing her hands on her hips, surveying her work.

I turned my head this way and that. She’d pinned only the juu part of my curls up into a gorgeous bun at the back of my head. This combined with the make-up she’d done previously was just about the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I almost didn’t recognize myself. “It’s perfect.” I smiled, leaning back in the chair and relaxing a bit.

“As always. Now, what to wear.” She touched a finger to her chin in thought. “I know!” She said, grabbing my hand and dragging me from the room.


(Bella)
I paced the living room floor. There really wasn’t a need for it, I wasn’t all that nervous and it wasn’t like there was anything terrifying coming our way; at least, not anymore.

“Bella, love, please sit down.” Edward asked as he sat on the sofa ‘reading’ the paper.

“Seriously, Bella, you’re giving me a headache,” Jasper said, holding his head in an exaggerated manner.

“Fine,” I alisema with a sigh, plopping down beside Edward, crossing my arms and my legs, my elevated foot bouncing uncontrollably.

“Will wewe relax? Everything is going to be fine.” Edward whispered gently, staring at the black and white sheets in front of him.

Esme laughed at my pose as she crossed to the door, opening it just as Rosalie backed inside. Her clothes were splattered with bright blue paint, her shimmering hair matted in spots with the same hue.

“Emmett, no! Emmett, stop!” The blonde ordered, holding her hands up in surrender.

Emmett crossed the threshold; he too was covered in paint though in a bright pink color. “You asked for it!” Emmett replied, aiming his paintball gun at her.

“Not in the house!” Esme ordered.

Emmett fired, hitting Rose in the forehead.

She gasped, standing awestruck for a moment, her expression suddenly changing to playful rage. “Why wewe . . .”

“Uh, oh.” Emmett ran back out the door, Rosalie on his heels as Jacob entered, watching them run across the yard, their laughter audible even with their distance.

“What are they doing?” Jacob asked blankly, his eyes moving from Esme, to Jasper, to Edward, then me. He was dressed in a tailored suit and tie. His hair tied back into a ponytail at the base of his head.

“Paintball fight.” Edward alisema nonchalantly, turning a page.

“Hmm.” He replied, lifting his eyebrows.

“How are wewe doing this evening?” Esme asked, closing the door.

“Great. And yourself?”

“Fantastic. Which, if I may say so, is how wewe look tonight Jacob.”

“Thanks.” He alisema with a smile.

“You are quite welcome. Nessie should be down in a moment.” She glanced up at the ceiling a smile crossing her lips.


(Renesmee)
“He’s here.” I alisema quietly, staring wide eyed at my tiny aunt.

She laughed. “You were willing, even excited, to fight the Volturi, but now that you’re about to have your first real tarehe you’re terrified?”

I pouted, crossing my arms, “So?”

“So, it’s going to be fine. Great even!”

“I’d be a zaidi willing to believe wewe if wewe could see how tonight was going to turn out.”

“Yes well, your boyfriend is keeping that from happening.”

“Damn him.” I muttered.

She laughed again. “Just one final touch then wewe can go.” She draped the locket my mother had aliyopewa me so many years zamani around my neck, clasping it gently at the back. “There.”

I turned, looking myself over in the mirror. She’d dressed me in a black pencil skirt, paten leather stilettos and a lacey, pale blue tank top.

“You look marvelous.” She squealed, smiling exuberantly.

I couldn’t reply. All I could do was stare at the reflection before me. There was no doubt in my mind that Alice could make the most frightening being look amazing. I giggled lightly.

“You like it?”

“I upendo it!” I threw my arms around her shoulders. “Thank wewe so much!”

“Anytime.”

I stepped back. “I think I’m ready.”

“Not without this you’re not.” She tossed me the leather koti, jacket Jake had aliyopewa me. I caressed the material. I really loved this jacket. “Put it on before your parents throw a fit. Then get going. wewe wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.”

I pulled my arms through the sleeves as she ushered me out of the room with a bit zaidi force than necessary.

As we reached the juu of the stairs she stopped, taking a step back with a smile.


(Bella)
I turned my head as I heard the sound of heels on the juu landing. There, looking zaidi than radiant was Renesmee. She was a picture of perfection, a sight unimaginable. I bit down on my lip looking to Jacob who was standing only feet from the doorway, captivated kwa her beauty.

She dismounted the stairway and crossed the room quickly. “Hi, Jake.” She alisema meekly, blushing lightly.

“Nessie . . . wewe look—”

“If wewe don’t mind Jacob, I’d appreciate wewe keeping those thoughts to yourself.” Edward addressed, still not looking up.

“Sorry, Edward.” He replied not turning from my daughter, his eyes overflowing with all the upendo he felt for her. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you.” She blushed once more.

“Um, shall we?” He asked quickly, offering her his arm.

It was weird to see Jacob all dressed up like this. He too was dressed to impress and nearly as splendid looking as Nessie.

She took his arm, glancing back at each of us. “I’ll see wewe guys later.” She smiled brightly.

“Have a wonderful time.” Esme offered, smiling elatedly as Carlisle approached her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

“We will.” Jake assured.

“Should she have one hair out of place Jacob, I will be sure to offer wewe a swift, nearly painless, death.” Edward said, finally putting down the newspaper.

“Shut up Edward!” Alice scolded, moving mbele and hitting him hard on the shoulder. “You two get going you’ll be late for your reservation.”

“Okay.” Renesmee said, pulling a bemused and somewhat frightened Jacob along out the door. “Bye!”

“Bye!” Each person in the house replied in unison except for me.

I sighed, letting my head fall back.

“See? That wasn’t so hard.” Edward said, turning to me with a half smile.

“Yeah, like ‘ripping my finger nails off’ not hard.”

“You did superbly.” He said, putting an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into him.

I rested my head on his shoulder, “What other human things are we going to have to participate in from now on?” I asked quietly. “I don’t know how many zaidi I can handle.”

“Well—” Edward began.

“Renesmee’s graduation!” Esme alisema excitedly.

“Oh, right.” I replied with a nod. This event was only months away and somehow I’d let it slip my mind. Maybe I needed some kind of vampire brand garlic pills for my memory.

“Like we need zaidi graduation caps.” Jasper said, rolling his eyes as Alice took a kiti, kiti cha on his knee with a giggle.

“The open house after the graduation maybe.” Edward alisema with a shrug. “If Nessie wants one that is.”

“Hmm. Well, that doesn’t sound so bad.” I said, feeling a whole lot better about things.

“And our ten mwaka high school reunion!” Alice added bubbly.

“What?” I looked to Edward quickly. “We are not seriously going to that!”
Edward laughed, holding me a bit tighter. “You’ll be fine. wewe have three zaidi years to mull over the idea.”

I scoffed resting my head against him once more.


It had been a wild ride. These last few months was definitely the most jam-packed of my life. zaidi so even than our last three run-ins with the Volturi, the confrontation with James, fighting the newborns and Victoria, losing Edward, saving Edward . . . marrying Edward.

This is the point when I realized why I hadn’t found a place for Renesmee. I’d already come to realize she was a lot like me, but there was zaidi to it. She was a mixture of not only Edward and I, but all of us. She was astute, a shared characteristic within the Cullen family, caring like Carlisle, loving like Esme, quirky like Alice, mystifying like Jasper, tough like Emmett, blunt like Rosalie, and finally, creative like Edward.

There wewe are! I can see wewe now. Your curls, your smile, your eccentric enthusiasm, your love—your life. You’re just what I’d always hoped you’d turn out to be. You’re my angel. My daughter. I couldn’t be prouder.