1,345AN: If you want a short drabble of the time between the last chapter and this one, look at chapter 52 of my wolf drabbles- the last one on that page, called Freefall, takes place in the summer between these two chapters.
This is it! After 6 years, 2 months, and however many days I am marking this baby complete! Thank you so much for your patience and for sticking with me through this story! Merry Christmas!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but some shirtless pics of Alex Meraz. SM owns all.
Epilogue
Paul POV
September
Senior year. At one time I thought I'd never make it here. I figured I would either be dead or in jail before that, but life is funny that way.
It had been a crazy year so far. Even though I marked Bella back in February, we didn't progress any further in our physical relationship until May. Yes, I took Bella's virginity on prom night. We're that cliche…
Speaking of, I felt Bella's hand move up my chest and up around my neck as she shifted next to me. While she spent most of the summer in my bed, she didn't officially move in until last week. It took that long to convince Charlie that they would need the room with the new baby coming and all.
Bella was also set to finish her senior year at the tribal school with me and Jared. She was really looking forward to it, even if most of the kids were confused why she was there. We didn't advertise her Quileute paternity so most people still knew her only as Charlie's daughter.
Under tribal law though, we were married by way of the mark, and that, along with her original birth certificate, gave her tribal membership and entrance to the school.
"What time is it, baby?" Her sleep-raspy voice never failed to draw a reaction from me down south, like pretty much everything she did.
"It's early enough that we can have a little fun before we have to go to school," I grinned down at her heavy eyes and messy hair. "Come up here and sit on my dick."
As I expected, she slapped my chest at my crass words, but she did slide her leg over my hip and lay herself across my chest. "I'm too tired to do all the work, Paul. You kept me up late last night."
Her words contradicted her actions though, and she pulled her knees up on either side of my hips and rubbed herself on my morning wood. I let her work for a minute, then I flipped us over and dove down under the sheet for my breakfast.
She moaned and writhed as I lapped at her delicious folds, taking a moment to nibble on my mark as I worked a couple fingers inside her. I didn't let up until she let out a hoarse scream and tightened around me, choking my fingers the way I wanted her to choke my dick.
She was still coming down, breathing hard, as I slid up her body and into heaven. The feel of her wrapped tight around me was like nothing else. I would never get tired of that feeling.
Staring down into her big brown eyes, I saw our future laid out. She'd had my heart from the first time I saw her on that beach when we were eight years old. I couldn't wait to graduate and do whatever we were going to do—together.
Bella seemed just as locked in to my eyes, and I held her gaze until I felt her start to tighten around me, threatening my own release. Just as I started to come, I dipped my head down and covered her lips with mine. Just like our first kiss, and the first time I saw her as a wolf, I felt the universe shift. This girl was my whole world, and I wanted the whole world to know it.
I finally pulled my lips away from hers and myself from her body, but only leaned away far enough to reach into my nightstand drawer. I pulled out the little box I bought in Port Angeles and sat back on my heels, still between her spread legs.
Reaching down, I picked up her left hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, before setting the box there. "Bella Swan, I have loved you as long as I have known you. You're my first love, my imprint, my lover, and my mate. You're my best friend.
"I don't want to go another day without the rest of the world knowing that I'm yours and you are mine.
"Bella, will you marry me?"
She had a smile on her face as soon as I put the box in her hand, but when I popped it open and she saw the fairly respectable diamond solitaire on the white gold band, tears welled up in her eyes. She looked between me and the ring nodding her head the whole time.
"Yes!"
~oOo~oOo~oOo~
Charlie POV
Five years later
"Daddy! Let's go! Time to go see Sissy and Lily!"
My youngest child had no shortage of energy as she climbed down the steps as fast as her short little legs could take her. Mabel Swan had just turned five a few weeks earlier, and she was ready to go to her older sister's house for our family Christmas.
Our family had certainly grown over the past few years. It started with Mabel's birth, then Paul and Bella got married the month after they graduated. Walking her down the aisle was one of my favorite memories, especially seeing how emotional Paul was standing there waiting for her.
Talk around town was that Paul got her pregnant and had to marry her, but as the months went by and Bella stayed as slim as always the rumors eventually died down.
They moved to Seattle for college and while Bella got her teaching certificate, Paul ended up graduating with honors in business. He came back to La Push and he and Sam officially took over for Sam's grandpa. Paul also ran an after-school program to keep the rez kids out of trouble. He even coached a couple in MMA fighting, much to my dismay.
While those two went to Seattle, Embry and Leah (his imprint, though that never got any more normal to say) headed to Tacoma for school. They didn't come home as often, but they had finally moved back earlier in the summer. I think the birth of Bella and Paul's first child helped draw them back.
Embry bought the house on one side of Paul, while Quil and Jessica got the one across the street. It took that boy three months before he joined the pack, but when he did he pretty much became the peacemaker that brought our family back together.
I followed Tiffany and Mabel out to the car, helped them in, and went back for the box of presents. We had quite the crew to buy for, especially since Big Quil, Linda, Collin, and little Brady were going to be there too. Brady was only a few months younger than Mabel and they got along as well as Bella, Embry, and Quil had back when they were younger.
Paul was waiting in the door when we drove up, but Mabel ran right past him as soon as she left the car, not even stopping for him to throw her up in the air like he always did. She was headed straight for the baby.
Lilian Marie Lahote. My little Lily bug. My first grand baby. And Quil's…
I tried not to let it bother me that Big Quil had any kind of claim on that baby, but as Bella pointed out, a baby can never have too many grandparents, and with Renee and Phil all the way in Florida, and Paul's parents out of the picture, that left me and Quil.
Of course it was pretty funny seeing Linda as a thirty year old grandmother.
Paul helped me bring the gifts inside, and I took a moment to look at their expanded house. There was nothing reminiscent about the shack where I first found Paul hiding in a dirty closet. Now their home boasted four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large updated kitchen.
The picture window in the living room showcased the decorated Christmas tree, and I walked past it to see all four of my girls sitting on the couch.
Tiffany and Bella were seated on each end, while Mabel sat between them carefully holding her niece, Lily. Her big brown eyes sparkled as she waved her little hands around.
I reached for her and she squealed as she spotted me, reaching for my mustache as soon as I lifted her up. "Come here my Lily bug! You're getting so big!"
I walked Lily over to the tree, telling her about the different ornaments and I saw Mabel curl up with Bella out of the corner of my eye. The love my girls shared for each other never failed to make me smile.
The door opened several more times, and Bella and Tiffany retreated to the kitchen to get the meal ready as the house filled with laughter and our family. I was the one to open the door when Big Quil and his family came in.
"That can't be our Lily bug! She's getting so big Charlie, what will we do now?" His robust voice carried out over the whole gathering, and Embry walked up with Leah tucked close to his side.
"Well, you know Lily is getting bigger, and Quil and Jessica are due in March," I got a funny feeling when Embry led with that statement.
Bella was bouncing on her heels next to Paul, and I glanced across at Sue and Harry to see if they had caught on yet.
Leah spoke up next, "Well, we will be having our own little bundle joining us in July!"
Lily cried when everyone broke into excited shouts of congratulations and laughter, but I just held on and rocked her back to sleep in my arms. Looking around the room at all the pieces of my family, I couldn't help but be grateful.
I had no idea what I would find when I had first come to this little house in La Push, but I had found my daughter's future, and the best pieces of my own. My grandchildren had a much brighter future than Paul had once faced.